A BURY woman - whose daughter tragically died after inhaling fumes from typewriter correction fluid - is backing a major campaign for the prevention of solvent misuse.

Heartbroken mum Mrs Sheila Kirkman is supporting the national campaign intended to highlight the dangers to parents.

Every year in England solvent abuse kills more teenagers than heroin.

Mrs Sheila Kirkman, aged 49, of Westminster Avenue says that parents must have the information to deal with the problem should it arise.

The alarming statistics have prompted a Health Education Authority campaign to warn parents of the risks of "volatile substance" abuse (VSA).

The campaign will target parents with advertisements in magazines and newspapers, spelling out the risks of VSA and outlining the warning signs to look out for.

A series of local radio features will be broadcast this week to raise awareness.

Mrs Kirkman's 14-year-old daughter Emma Louise Kendall died as a result of inhaling fumes from typewriter correction fluid six years ago. After her daughter's tragic death, Mrs Kirkman set up the Eliminate Lethal Kicks group (ELK, her daughter's initials), and activists visit shops which sell solvents and distribute leaflets.

In 1993 Sheila called on John Major to ban correction fluid from the shops.

According to figures released by the HEA, 56 people have died as a result of solvent abuse in the North-west between 1990 and 1994.

In January 1994 Sean Anthony Donohue, 22, was found dead after sniffing lighter fuel at his home at Park Road, Bolton.

In June that year Lee Wordsworth, 25, from Westhoughton, killed himself by sniffing lighter fuel.

In the HEA's recent Drug Realities survey, 5,000 people aged between 11-35 were questioned and five per cent of them said they had at some time inhaled glues, solvents or aerosols.

Mrs Kirkman said: "Because there is less publicity about solvent abuse and because you don't see it happening in the street every day, it looks as if it is not going on but it obviously is.

"Just last week I heard some schoolchildren talking about inhaling various substances on my local bus.

"I think the campaign to target parents will have the right impact and is more direct.

"If a number of groups like Network VSA and ELK get together to highlight the dangers in the misuse of solvents, there is more chance that people will listen." Parents are being urged to talk to their children about the dangers of VSA.

HEA Campaign Manager Dee McLean said: "The 'at risk' age for solvent abuse is 11-14 - an age when young people are still responsive to parental advice.

"If parents discover their child has been inhaling it's important to try to keep calm. Try to find out what they have inhaled - most do so out of curiosity or peer influence at school or it may be to help them escape from other problems they could be experiencing."

Even though VSA deaths have been declining since the 80s, solvent abuse still claims more teenage lives (one a week in England) than 'high profile' drugs like Ecstasy and heroin.

People who die after inhaling solvents are often experimenting with them for the first time.

Parents can ring the National Drugs Helpline on 0800 77 66 00 to find out about inhaling and what they can do to help their children.

Free copies of 'A Parent's Guide to Drugs and Solvents' and the teenage magazine D-Mag are available by contacting the helpline or from D-COS, PO Box 105, Sandwich, Kent. CT13 9BR.

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