Pubdate: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 Source: Daily Record (UK) Copyright: 2002 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Contact: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111 Author: Janice Burns IT KILLED MY SON AND YOUR KID MAY BE NEXT Please Help Me End This Butane Buzzing Russian Roulette Grieving Dad John Demands The Scottish Parliament Take Swift Action THE father of a schoolboy who died after sniffing lighter fuel is waging a star-studded war against shopkeepers dealing in death. Battling John O'Brien is calling on the Scottish Parliament to bring in new laws to stop them selling the poison to children. The papermill worker launched a campaign in memory of his son Lee, 16, who was found slumped on the floor by his pregnant girlfriend. John, 47, of Methil, Fife, already has the backing of movie star Dougray Scott and plans to enlist the support of Prince William and snooker champion Stephen Hendry. Last night, he dubbed butane gas the childhood drug of the 21st century and revealed that up to 20 per of schoolkids have dabbled in the habit. Around 80 British children die every year of lighter fuel abuse, 10 per cent in Scotland. John says that each time a child sniffs the poisonous gas they are playing a game of Russian Roulette. He said: "There are children dying at the age of seven because shopkeepers are selling them cans of gas. "My son died because shopkeepers are being allowed to sell children deadly gas willy-nilly. "You have got to be 18 to buy the gas, but shops do not have to display any signs unlike alcohol or cigarettes. "I want the Government to change the law to make shopkeepers record every sale, ask for identification and get purchasers to sign for the gas." John has set up a campaign called LOST - the Lee O'Brien Solvent Trust. The aim is to help parents who have lost children to gas abuse and to raise awareness of the dangers in schools. John said: "People think that lighter fuel abuse is a trend that has passed - - but it has made a comeback and it is the youth drug of 2002 because it is so cheap and easy to obtain. "Most parents won't believe this, but many schoolkids are actually sniffing it in the playground between classes or in their bedrooms at night. "What these children do not know is that sooner or later it will kill them. "Just like my son, one day it will catch the back of their throats, freezing the muscles and stopping oxygen from getting to the lungs." He added: "The heart beats much faster. Within 20 seconds, their heart will explode and they will be dead. "If it doesn't kill them it will almost certainly leave them with severe brain damage. The youngest victim was a seven-year-old boy, which is almost beyond belief. "Shopkeepers know there is a profit to be made dealing in death. "They stock up on these cans of fuel because they know there will be a rush during school lunch hour." Movie star Scott pledged his support and signed a petition after being named honorary chieftain of the Highland Games in Markinch, Glenrothes, earlier this month. Now John plans to present at least 100,000 signatures to the Scottish Parliament and is confident Wills, who is studying at St Andrews University, will get behind the life-saving cause. John is also hoping Scots snooker star Hendry, who went to the same school as his son in Inverkeithing, will pledge his support. Fife MSP Marilyn Livingstone has put a motion to the Parliament demanding action to cut the death rate among youngsters. She has the backing of 23 MSPs and plans to meet Justice Minister Jim Wallace to hammer out details. She said: "There is so much support for a change in the law that I've no doubt we will be successful. "What we need is more signatures for the petition and for other parents who have lost children to get behind the campaign so that we can save the lives of future youngsters." Ralph McGregor, of Re-Solv Scotland, the Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse, also wants action taken against shopkeepers. He said: "The number of deaths and users in Scotland is extremely alarming and lighter fuel abuse has become more common. "We are right behind John's campaign. We have to make shopkeepers more accountable. "If we make it difficult for children to buy lighter fuel, it will save lives. "We also want a test-purchasing scheme being piloted in Scotland at the moment to be introduced as a matter of course. "It would mean under-18s being sent into shops to see who will sell to them and prosecutions can follow." Earlier this year, the Record revealed Paula Fyfe was under a death sentence at the age of just 18. The once lively, happy teenager is addicted to the butane gas she began sniffing five years ago. There is no medical help to save her from the deadly habit. Paula is now in hospital after being sectioned by her desperate family under the Mental Health Act. But stepfather Matthew said: "She can only be treated for depression, not her gas addiction. "You have groups for gamblers, alcoholics and drug abusers - but not for volatile solvent abuse. "Heroin addicts get methadone, smokers get patches, solvent abuse addicts get nothing. They have been condemned to die." The Deadly Truth About Lighter Fuel Children inhale the poisonous lighter fuel. In the lungs, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, creating a euphoric feeling. Users give the impression of being drunk, staggering and slurring their words. They can suffer hallucinations and their perceptions are distorted. Side-effects are extremely unpleasant and include vomiting, disorientation and dizziness. The buzz only lasts for a few minutes, so users feel the need to keep topping it up. But the gas can freeze the back of the throat, damaging the tissue and causing swelling and suffocation within 20 seconds. Victims who don't die are often left with permanent brain damage. It can also stop the heart, starving the brain of oxygen and causing "sudden sniffing death". Lighter fuel has become the children's drug because it is so cheap and easy to hide from parents and teachers. At only 98p for a 250gram can and widely available in corner shops and petrol stations, it's cheaper than a bottle of booze. "Hangovers" can arise after intensive use and often consist of headaches, drowsiness and confusion. Children with asthma can make their condition worse by inhaling butane gas. But many other users have upper respiratory side-effects, similar to the common cold. Persistent use can cause a rash around the mouth and nose. Toll Of Despair Fallon Harrigan The Paisley schoolgirl, 16, died after her boyfriend bought a can of butane gas for them to buzz. But Gordon Hampsay, 19, was shown mercy by a judge in April this year after he admitted killing her by giving her the lighter fuel. Rachel Denholm Rachel, 15, died after her first hit of lighter fuel caused severe brain damage. She was in a coma for 15 months. Her brain had swollen through lack of oxygen and she eventually lost her fight for life at Dundee Royal Hospital in 1998. Angela Stevenson THE13-year-old suffered horrific burns when she lit a cigarette after sniffing lighter fuel. Angela, of Halbeath, near Dunfermline, Fife, had to have extensive plastic surgery after spilling petrol on her clothes while inhaling fumes. Ross McNally The would-be fighter pilot was left brain damaged and with the mind of a five-year-old after experimenting with lighter fuel. The teenager, once a bright schoolboy from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, now lives "in his own wee world". Dawn Bell Mum-of-two Dawn, from Inverness, was only 24 when she died after sniffing lighter fuel in her home. Her sons were only five months and three years old when the solvent abuser lost her fight for life in 1997. Archie Craig Teenager Archie died from inhaling fuel bought for just £1 from a shop last summer. The student collapsed in the street just minutes from his home in Glasgow.His parents Archie and Jan called for a campaign to warn youngsters. Carrie McAloon Carrie died when she sniffed fuel for the first time just hours after celebrating her 15th birthday in 1995. The teenager was found slumped next to her parents' bed, in Polbeth, West Lothian. If You Need Help John O'Brien is desperate for support for LOST and can be contacted on 01592 714501. Anyone wishing to back the campaign, or who wants more information on solvent abuse, can contact ReSolv on 01506 881498. Or if your child has died or been injured by lighter fuel abuse contact the Record on 0141 309 3251. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens