Prevalence of volatile solvent inhalation among junior high school students in Japan and background life style of users.

In order to estimate the prevalence of volatile solvent inhalation among junior high school students in Japan and to assess certain characteristics of the lifestyle of these users, the authors surveyed 5240 students 12-15 years of age. This was the first major survey of the prevalence of volatile solvent inhalation among junior high school students in Japan, from the point of view of the number of subjects and schools. 1.5% of subjects were students who had inhaled solvents. The regularity of life style rhythm was more significantly disturbed in Lifetime Users than in Non-Users. School life and family life were significantly less relaxed for Lifetime Users than for Non-Users. Drinking alcohol and smoking had a strong relationship with inhaling volatile solvents. The authors suggest that greatly increasing education on the harmful effects of volatile solvents inhalation and increasing the frequency with which the entire family eats dinner together will be an effective prevention strategy in Japan.