New kids craze that could kill
Sunday Life - July 9, 2006
By Joe Oliver
It's known as the craze that kills and it could be heading for Ulster after leaving a trail of death across America and central Europe.
More than 150 kids have died from 'dusting', which involves inhaling compressed air from sprays used for cleaning computer keyboards.
Just one hit can be fatal because youngsters believe there is no volatile substance involved in what they're using.
But dust-off products contain a dangerous ingredient called fluorinated hydrocarbon that can paralyse the body as well as giving users a buzz.
Damage can occur to the brain, lungs, kidneys and it can trigger a fatal heart attack.
And despite the fact that the compressed air containers are legal to buy, no anti-drugs or solvent abuse agency in Northern Ireland is tracking or collecting information on dusting.
Indeed, the Department of Health said it had "never heard of it" and drugs tsar Rob Phipps was "not available" to discuss the legal killer.
The dusting craze was seen as such a threat to middle-class kids in Canada that in one state the RCMP openly warned parents, despite concerns that publicising the practice might encourage others to try it.
Barbara Skinner, chief executive of the London-based Solve It charity is well aware of the dangers of dust-off products.
"They do not carry any warning in the UK despite containing compressed gas fuelled by butane," she said.
"We believe labelling must be made obligatory, because you are talking about a very volatile substance."
In the film Thirteen, two teen characters are seen sitting on a bed dusting and then slapping each other to bring themselves down from their high.
It's estimated that one in five young people aged between 11-16 in Northern Ireland have used solvents.
And 10 times more suffer a serious reaction as a result of inhaling vapours than from Ecstasy tablets.
Researcher Colleen Dell, of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse in Ottawa, said: "The understanding among kids is that there is no gas involved in computer duster products.
"They believe that they are intaking air - and that is completely false and highly dangerous."
Art Brandon, of the Chicago Alcohol and Substance Abuse centre, told Sunday Life: "Dusting is a massive problem in America and it's spreading worldwide.
"The best thing to do is get the proper information out there now, so that people know exactly what they're dealing with."
SOURCE:
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=698025