Esmail A, Meyer L, Pottier A, Wright S
Department of Public Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
Arch Dis Child. 1993 Sep;69(3):356-60. doi: 10.1136/adc.69.3.356.
The epidemiology of deaths from volatile substance abuse (VSA) in those under 18 years that occurred in the UK from 1981-90 is described. The analysis of deaths is based on a national register, which has information obtained from a regular survey of coroners, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and a press clippings agency. Altogether 605 people under 18 died from VSA during this period. Seventy per cent of deaths occurred between the ages of 14 and 16. The largest number of deaths were attributed to butane gas lighter refills. There was a large north-south gradient in age specific mortality ratios (Scotland 180, south east England 87) and nearly four times as many deaths occurred in social class V compared with social class I. Deaths from VSA are an important and preventable cause of deaths in those under 18. Strategies aimed at prevention should include measures to reduce experimentation, intervention to reduce socioeconomic deprivation, and health education campaigns aimed at schools and parents.
本文描述了1981年至1990年期间英国18岁以下青少年因挥发性物质滥用（VSA）导致死亡的流行病学情况。死亡分析基于一份国家登记册，该登记册的信息来自对验尸官的定期调查、人口普查和调查办公室以及一家剪报机构。在此期间，共有605名18岁以下青少年死于VSA。70%的死亡发生在14至16岁之间。死亡人数最多的原因是丁烷气打火机充气剂。特定年龄死亡率存在较大的南北梯度（苏格兰为180，英格兰东南部为87），与社会阶层I相比，社会阶层V的死亡人数几乎是其四倍。VSA导致的死亡是18岁以下青少年死亡的一个重要且可预防的原因。预防策略应包括减少尝试的措施、减少社会经济剥夺的干预措施以及针对学校和家长的健康教育活动。
