Media release from Chief Coroner Neil Maclean

Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean today released a report showing butane inhalation deaths have killed at least 63 Kiwis since 2000.

Recreational butane inhalation, also known as volatile substance abuse (VSA) or "huffing", is the intentional inhalation of aerosols, solvents and gases for intoxication.

 "This is an insidious and extremely dangerous activity that is predominantly killing young males," Judge MacLean said. "It is a sad reflection of our society that so many people are losing their lives for the sake of being briefly intoxicated."

Judge MacLean began the review of the coronial records in July after two Dunedin teenagers were seriously injured after an LPG canister they were huffing from exploded.

 The case-study shows that of the 63 deaths since 2000:
•    More than 75% were male. 
•    Almost half were Maori.
•    More than 87% were aged under 24 years.
•    The youngest was a 12 year-old boy, while the oldest was a 76-year-old man. The next oldest fatality was 32 years old.

•    In all cases where the method was known, the abused substance was a common household product.

Judge MacLean said the case-study includes summaries of coroners' recommendations from some of the 63 findings.

"Several Coroners have expressed concerns regarding the availability of inhalants from retailers and have commented on the need for regulation," he said. "The difficulty is that most of the common inhalants are everyday household products.

"Other recommendations have discussed the need for a national education campaign and increased publicity to improve knowledge about the risks of inhalant abuse, and to help curb this dangerous practice."

The report also contains case studies from coroners in Australia, as well as a look at Australian and British laws around the restriction of the sale of butane products.

The case-study is part of the second edition of the quarterly Recommendations Recap, which contains summaries of coronial recommendations released between 1 January and 31 March 2012.