New Zealand Man Dies after Huffing Butane

Via Stuff in New Zealand:

The coroner findings have been released and reveal that a 24 year old man who died on November 20, 2013 died from "acute butane toxicity" after huffing lighter fluid.

The article points out that in New Zealand between 2000 and 2012, there have been 63 deaths related to huffing butane, with 55 of them under 24 years old and 24 of them under 17.

The report also notes that after up to three minutes, the man collapsed and fell face down.  Friends and paramedics were unable to revive him and he died at the park.

14 Year Old Dies After Huffing Butane

Via the Times of Malta:


Police suspect inhaling lighter fluid led to the death of a 14 year old girl last Friday. The girl “fainted and died of cardiac arrest” but toxicology tests will confirm whether her death was “triggered by inhaling butane gas emitted by the lighter refill can.”

Reports state that the girl and her friend were huffing the inhalant on the roof when she fainted. Her friend started shouting and the girl’s mother responded and called an ambulance. The girl died shortly afterwards.

The article references the The 2011 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) which revealed that 14% of Fifth Form students used inhalants to get high, a sharp increase from the 9% recorded in 2007.

A memorial page has been set up on Facebook and can be accessed here:

Huffing May Have Killed New Zealand Teenager

via nzherald.co.nz

An inquest into the death of a Rotorua teenager has heard that he could have died from huffing - inhaling gas - from a cigarette lighter or deodorant can.

Texas Teen Sets Fire to House After Huffing Lighter Fluid

Via KTSM News 9 in Texas

An 18 year-old male has been charged with negligent arson after setting fire to an abandoned house. According to police, he and two other teens were getting high off lighter fluid when one person "soaked a rag with lighter fluid, set it on fire and threw it on a pile of wood in the backyard."

Inhalant Abuse in Gallatin County, Montana

Via KXLF TV in Montana:

The commander of the Missouri River Drug Task Force commented on inhalant abuse in the region. “Here in Gallatin County we see huffing or inhaling of butane lighter fluid, paints, paint thinner, and glues.”

He also revealed that about 50% of those inhaling the products to get high are under 18 years of age.”

Turkish Teen Dies from Inhalant Abuse

Via Today’s Zaman in Turkey:

This weekend, a 15 year-old girl from Bursa died after reportedly sniffing lighter fluid to get high with friends. She had been out with friends on Friday evening and her mother had difficulty waking her up the following morning.

The article notes that lighter fluid inhalation has replaced traditional chroming agents such as spray paint and glue, which are illegal for sale to people under 18. The article also points out that this is the fourth lighter fluid related teen death this year. The others included two 15 year-olds and a 14-year old. A local physician warned that the "ingredients of lighter liquid, such as butane, mix with the blood very quickly, fatalities are frequent in such cases."

Earlier this month 10 teenagers were injured in the region after an explosion at an abandoned house where they had gathered to huff lighter fluid. Police found dozens of empty lighter canisters at the scene.

International Inhalant Abuse

In Bangor, Wales, a 23-year-old died on Saturday after sniffing lighter fluid in a friend's car. All of a sudden, he stopped breathing and collapsed. Although he was put on life support, there was nothing that doctors could do. He had an 18-year-old fiancee with whom he had planned on starting a family.

His sister, Emma, reported that "It was the first time he'd ever done it."

This is a sad example of how dangerous inhalant use can be the very first time. Without warning, huffing can be fatal.