Huffing death prompts rethink

The death of a 17-year-old Christchurch teenager at the weekend, who may have inhaled butane gas, has prompted one Wairarapa company to review selling practices in their retail outlets.

Allan Pollard of Trust House, which runs a variety of businesses including supermarkets, liquor outlets and hotels, said he would be addressing the issue of at-risk products, such as those which contain butane.

"It'll be something that I'll be discussing with managers at the next managers' meeting," he said.

Butane is commonly found in aerosol products, but consideration is now being given to restricting availability of the gas to young people.

The chief coroner is conducting a review into recreational use of the gas. More than 50 people are thought to have died from huffing since 2000.

Leo Schep from the National Poisons Centre said huffing aerosol products, which commonly contain propane and butane, was like playing Russian roulette.

"There is danger at several levels," Dr Schep said.

"You've got sudden sniffing death, you've got the issue of frostbite and then you've got this explosive mixture."

Dr Schep said users could suffer frostbite around their mouth when inhaling the gas.

He told the Wairarapa Time-Age those inhaling butane were often unaware it could lead to death, even after taking it just once.

"It just basically slows the heart down [and] it's a serious risk," he said.

"They build up a concentration, they get a narcotic high and then it affects the ability of the heart to propagate the beat."

Death could also occur several hours after inhalation, when a person's breathing was affected, restricting their oxygen supply.

Dr Schep warned young people that the effects of the accessible high were not worth the dangers.

"Playing with LPG is a bit like Russian roulette. It's stupid."

NZ Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said volatile substance abuse, such as butane inhalation, was a complex area of drug use.

"It's very difficult to get a sense of the trend, whether it is increasing or decreasing.

"And [butane is] pretty fast acting, unique and you can overdose pretty quick," Mr Bell said.

Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean launched a review into butane huffing after two Dunedin youths suffered critical injuries when an LPG gas cylinder they were believed to be sniffing from exploded last month.

Mr Bell said the research had identified up to 60 butane-related deaths since 2000, nearly all of which were young males aged under 24 years.

"It's easier to get your hands on this than it is alcohol or cannabis. It's more than just a canister of butane, it's more than just an LPG canister or a cooker for your tramping or your cigarette lighter refills, because many household products contain it."

Signs your child may be huffing:

• 
  Chemical smell on their breath or clothing
• 
  Empty canisters around their room or where they hang out
• 
  Mood swings or a general change in behaviour not explained by normal teenage behaviour
• 
  Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• 
  Mixing with a new group of friends, especially if they hang out in secluded places

Source: National Poisons Centre