The charity was founded 16 years ago to help combat the problem of solvent abuse amongst young people and is the only national charity solely concerned with the prevention of solvent and volatile substance abuse. Norman Boyd stated that sadly Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates of deaths in the United Kingdom and it was vital that Re-SOLV had established a base in Northern Ireland. More Ulster children die from solvent abuse than drug taking which has also an alarming rate of abuse, particularly among young people in Northern Ireland. Ulster is the third worst area in the United Kingdom for solvent abuse ahead of London and Manchester and twice as bad as Wales. The youngest victim was aged 11 but some children as young as six have inhaled solvents.
Solvent abuse kills eight times more people every year than the dreadful drug ecstasy.
One sniff of many solvents can kill so solvent abuse is lethal. Norman Boyd MLA who held a meeting last week at Stormont with RE-SOLV's Director and former Conservative MP Warren Hawksley has joined the charity to support its work. Norman Boyd is keen to help schools, young people and parents in his constituency and throughout Northern Ireland and has been given a training video by RE-SOLV together with leaflets to help raise the awareness of the deadly nature of solvent abuse. 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Norman Boyd MLA may also be contacted for further information at his constituency office on 93349132 or at Stormont on 90521901.