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STATES OF JERSEY
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CIGARETTE LIGHTER REFILL CANISTERS: SALE TO MINORS (P.218/2005) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 28th February 2006 by the Minister for Home Affairs
STATES GREFFE
COMMENTS
Results from the 2002 Health-Related Behaviour Questionnaire, Picture of Health Jersey 2002', show that 5% of Year 8 pupils and 9% of Year 10 pupils said they had misused solvents (which includes volatile substances such as lighter fuel) in the previous year. Whilst this is lower than the results of the 2000 survey, it is significant in that solvents are the fourth most popular drug of choice for Year 8 pupils and the fifth for Year 10 pupils. The Alcoho and Drug Service received two referrals for solvent abuse during 2005 (one 18 year-old and one 13 year-old).
Following the two changes in legislation (1985 and 1999) to prohibit the sale of substances to under 18s, there has been a drop in recorded deaths from volatile substance abuse in this age group. The recent report ("Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971-2003") by the Department of Health (2005) suggests that legislative changes have played a key role in this reduction, as deaths associated with the abuse of volatile substances are now at the lowest recorded level since 1983.
It is important to note that education within schools targeting key groups remains a part of preventative strategies, as do the warning labels on domestic products which have been shown to be used by young people.
There is evidence that legislative change in this area has had a desirable effect, and therefore Home Affairs would be supportive of the proposed changes to bring Jersey in line with the United Kingdom.