Inhalant Abuse a Concern in New Zealand

Via Stuff in New Zealand:

Last February a 21 year-old female was found dead at her home. She had been huffing fly spray in her bedroom.

Her death has now prompted he Otago-Southland coroner to recommend more be done to prevent future tragedies. The report notes that according to Dr. Michael Beasley of the New Zealand National Poisons Centre, inhalant abuse is a “persisting problem in New Zealand” and that they have had inquiries for children as young as ten years old.

Man Forces Sexual Abuse Victim to Huff Fly Spray

A man in Rotorua is accused of forcing his 13-year-old victim to huff fly spray before sexually assaulting her.

The man plead not guilty to sexually violating the girl in her own home.

The victim reports after many attempts by the aggressor to try to get her to inhale the spray, she finally gave in.

The victim reports feeling dazed after inhaling the substance and at that time the man sexually abused her.

The case is still on trial.

Via rotoradailypost.co.nz in Rotorua, New Zealand

Death Strikes Twice in 24 Hours

From the Otago Daily Times:

A Saturday death marked the first of two inhalant-related incidents in New Zealand within less than 24 hours. The victim's mother did not know her daughter was using inhalants in the time leading up to her death but there was one warning sign. Approximately two weeks earlier, she found nine empty cans of flyspray in her daughter's room. When she was confronted, the victim claimed the insecticide was meant to ward off flies.

Her daughter's death has emboldened the mother to speak out about inhalant abuse. Local authorities said the death is part of a larger trend with children as "young as 10" abusing the household items. One doctor pointed the only solution: "Continued education and other preventive measures are essential to help curb an extremely dangerous practice."

12 Year Old Boy Severely Burned After Huffing

From the Sunday Star Times (New Zealand) earlier this week.:

A 12 year old boy “huffed flyspray through his jacket” and then set himself on fire using a lighter. He suffered severe burns and remains in the hospital.

The article notes: “They could see "ice cubes" of residue on his clothes from the spray. "He was high and he was just being stupid," says the 12-year-old who passed him the lighter. "I told him not to do anything stupid... Then he lit the shirt... It just started out as a little patch." The fire quickly spread and the group started yelling at the boy to "stop, drop and roll". But he panicked, running away from them.

The shirt “burned for about 45 seconds” before his 14 year old friend caught him and ripped the shirt from him. The article quotes the 14 year old as saying, "I carried him on my shoulders to the fountain. He had bubbles all on his chest. His whole chest was burned. He was like, `take me home, take me home'."

Instead, the 14 year old carried the 12 year old from the foundation to the “Aquatic Centre next door, put him in a cold shower, and rang for an ambulance.”