Drug trends

Inhalant use in New Zealand is not widespread and research indicates that inhalants are tried and used by very few people. Those who do are generally young teenagers and most users fall in to the experimentation category. Inhalant abuse is episodic and largely a group activity especially for teenagers who are experimenting.

However inhalant research in New Zealand is very limited and generally does not capture the younger age groups.

According to the latest Drug Use in New Zealand Survey 2007/2008 published in 2009:

• 2.2 percent of 16- to 64-year-olds have ever used inhalants (this includes nitrites) and only 0.1 percent have used in the past year
• 1 percent of 16- to 64-year-olds have ever used solvents (this includes glues, butane) and use increases with neighbourhood deprivation
• 15 years of age was the median age of use for those that had ever used solvents
• 0.1% of 16- to 64-year-olds had ever used solvents. Males were more likely to use than females.