Use Of Volatile Solvents Research Articles

Mechanochemical Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Coupling with Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent as Liquid‐Assisted Grinding Additive: Merging Two Fields for a Greener Strategy

AbstractThe use of volatile solvents for organic synthesis is nowadays questioned due to their negative impact on the environnement. To develop sustainable and environmentally friendly methodologies, we propose to combine two green chemistry concepts: the use of bioinspired solvents: natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES), and mechanochemistry. Using the Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling as a model reaction, we described an efficient mechanochemical method with NaDES as a LAG (liquid‐assisted grinding) additive with short reaction times and without any ligand or additional heating. A mechanochemical extraction was also used to reduce the amounts of extraction solvents and the total time of the synthesis process.

Defining and measuring 'inhalant' use in population-based surveys.

The term 'inhalants' is commonly used to describe a group of drugs that are characterised by the route of administration. There are three main sub-groups of inhalants; volatile solvents, alkyl nitrites, and nitrous oxide. These drugs all have different pharmacological properties, use patterns, and potential harms; yet they are sometimes grouped together in survey instruments. This critical review aimed to present a comparative analysis of how these inhalant drugs are defined, and use measured, across a range of population-level drug use surveys. Population-level drug use surveys of youth (n=5) and general population (n=6), which measured use of at least once type of inhalant drug, were analysed as case studies. The types of inhalants surveyed were extracted, as well as definitions of these drugs, from code books or survey methods. Differing definitions were used between surveys, and included differences between countries, and between surveys intended to measure youth and general population drug use. Of the six general population surveys; five reported nitrous oxide use, five reported volatile solvent use, and four reported alkyl nitrite use. Of the five youth-specific surveys; three reported volatile solvent use, whereas only one reported on alkyl nitrite use, and one reported nitrous oxide use. There is no consistent approach used to define or measure the use of inhalant drugs, which has implications for global comparisons and understanding drug use in different populations. We conclude that the term 'inhalants' should be discontinued, due to the limited value in continuing to group very different types of drugs solely on the basis of their route of administration. Improving the epidemiology of volatile solvents, alkyl nitrites, and nitrous oxide as distinct drug types will be of benefit to harm reduction, treatment, and prevention efforts, and ensure these are targeted appropriately to population groups and context of use.

Utilization of Deep Eutectic Solvents to Reduce the Release of Hazardous Gases to the Atmosphere: A Critical Review.

The release of certain gases to the atmosphere is controlled in many countries owing to their negative impact on the environment and human health. These gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). Considering the major contribution of greenhouse gases to global warming and climate change, mitigation of these gases is one of the world’s primary challenges. Nevertheless, the commercial processes used to capture these gases suffer from several drawbacks, including the use of volatile solvents, generation of hazardous byproducts, and high-energy demand. Research in green chemistry has resulted in the synthesis of potentially green solvents that are non-toxic, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are novel solvents that upon wise choice of their constituents can be green and tunable with high biocompatibility, high degradability, and low cost. Consequently, the capture of toxic gases by DESs is promising and environmentally friendly and has attracted much attention during the last decade. Here, we review recent results on capture of these gases using different types of DESs. The effect of different parameters, such as chemical structure, molar ratio, temperature, and pressure, on capture efficiency is discussed.

Facile synthesis toward self-dispersible waterborne comb-like Poly(hydroxyaminoethers)

Water-dispersible polymers represent an evolved category in the chemical industry in terms of an eco-friendly technology to meet the desired performance and to reduce the use of volatile solvents. One of the major challenges in the development of water dispersible resins deeply relies on the emulsification process that often requires the ionization process or the use of additional surfactants. In this study, an efficient method for the preparation of amphiphilic comb-like poly(hydroxyaminoethers), which consists of hydrophobic epoxy resins as the backbone and hydrophilic polyethers as the side chains, were realized in the absence of catalysts or initiators. Different from the conventional epoxy resin dispersions prepared in the presence of surfactants, or through ionization process, these amphiphilic comb-like polymers exhibited self-dispersed properties to achieve stable non-ionic emulsions in the water. The hydrophilic contents of these comb-like poly(hydroxyaminoethers) could be easily tailored in a wide range from less than 20 wt% to over 65 wt%, along with glass transition temperatures ranged from −45 °C to ~ 50 °C. In addition, the emulsifying ability was facilitated via the variations of the polymer architectures and compositions. Anti-corrosion properties were also evaluated for these self-dispersible poly(hydroxyaminoether) emulsions.

Optimized methodology for product recovery following emulsion PCR: applications for amplification of aptamer libraries and other complex templates.

Bias and background issues make efficient amplification of complex template mixes such as aptamer and genomic DNA libraries via conventional PCR methods difficult; emulsion PCR is being increasingly used in such scenarios to circumvent these problems. However, before products generated via emulsion PCR can be used in downstream workflows, they need to be recovered from the water-in-oil emulsion. Often, emulsions are broken following amplification using volatile organic solvents, and product is subsequently isolated via precipitation. Unfortunately, the use of such solvents requires the implementation of special environmental controls, and the yield and purity of DNA isolated by precipitation can be highly variable. Here, we describe the optimization of a simple protocol which can be used to recover products following emulsion PCR using a 2-butanol extraction and subsequent DNA isolation via a commercially available clean-up kit. This protocol avoids the use of volatile solvents and precipitation steps, and we demonstrate that it can be used to reliably recover DNA from water-in-oil emulsions with efficiencies as high as 90%. Furthermore, we illustrate the practical applicability of this protocol by demonstrating how it can be implemented to recover a complex random aptamer library following amplification via emulsion PCR.

Outbreak of ED visits related to the use of synthetic cannabinoids, Mayotte Island

ObjectiveTo confirm and to characterize the increase in emergency department (ED) visits related to the use of synthetic cannabinoids (SC)IntroductionOn October 2016, the Indian Ocean Regional Health Agency was alerted about an increase in ED visits related to adverse reactions associated with use of SC on Mayotte Island. In this context, an investigation based on a syndromic surveillance system was implemented by the regional unit of the French national public health agency.MethodsAn extraction of anonymized records routinely collected by the syndromic surveillance system (1) was carried out from January 1st, 2012 to October 30, 2016. ED visits related to the consumption of SC were identified from ICD-10 codes of the principal diagnostic according to two levels of confidence:- a probable case was defined as ED visit coded X69 (Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to other and unspecified chemicals and noxious substances). This code has been implemented specifically by ED physicians since august 2015;- a suspect case was defined as ED visit coded: F11 (Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of opioids), F12 (Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of cannabinoids), F16 (Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of hallucinogens), F18 (Mental and behavioral disorders due to use of volatile solvents), F19 (Mental and behavioral disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances).Based on these data, an epidemic curve and a descriptive analysis of ED visits were carried out.ResultsIn total, 146 ED visits related to adverse events associated with use of SC were registered from January 1st, 2012 to October 30, 2016. The epidemic curve shows two waves between 2015 and 2016 with a particularly high peak in August 2015 (Figure 1). In total, 49% (n=72/146) of these ED visits were probably related to adverse reactions associated to use SC and 51% (n=74/146) meet to the suspect case definition. On the surveillance period, men represented 84% of the patients (n=122) and median age (min – max) was 23 (8-62) years old. When the severity score variable was filled (n = 138), a vital emergency was reported for 4% (n = 5) of patients and 19% of patients were hospitalized.ConclusionsData from syndromic surveillance system allowed to confirm an increase in ED visits related to adverse reactions associated with use of SC in Mayotte Island. To our knowledge, it’s the first time that an outbreak related to use SC is described in the Ocean Indian areaThis phenomenon was particularly marked in 2015 with a peak of ED visits on August 2016.After this outbreak, the regional unit of the French national public health agency recommended the pursuit of the coding X69 in principal diagnosis with the following case definition: any patient with an adverse reaction attributed to synthetic cannabinoid use whether suspected by the medical team or declared by the patient himself or if the patient is in possession of the substance; and to raise awareness ED physicians to the notification of these poisonings to the Regional Addictive Surveillance Center.In conclusion, the young population, weakened by a precarious socio-economic situation, is a target for new synthetic drugs and a threat to public health. This emerging risk in Mayotte must be taken into account and must be actively monitored. In this context, collaborative work with the emergency services must continue in parallel with targeted prevention measures.

Use of Solvents as Addition Drugs and Associated Factors among Undergraduated in São Paulo, Brazil

The deliberate inhalation of volatile solvents with intentions of intoxication is common among street. Inhalants are essentially impure, consisting of multiple toxic components and the consumption normally is in form of marginalized drug use. The preference for inhalants above other drugs as peer group influence, cost efficiency, ease of availability, and convenient packaging. The rapidity of mood alteration, for instance explains why sniffing often occurs in sessions. That is relevant to understand how inhalant use has evolved into the complex social practice and also undergraduate students life. To evaluate this questions we developed a questionnaire to investigate the solvent consumption and the relationship of these with the use of alcohol in undergraduate students from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, covering samples from the north, south, east, west and center regions. The study sample comprised 907 undergraduate students.METHODOLOGYThe instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire with 25 items in Google Forms™ format. The instant addition of responses to the data set makes this medium appealing for research purposes. Additionally, the respondents involved in the study have been regularly using Google Forms™, and it was therefore considered the most appropriate method for data collection. The results of the survey were statistically analyzed. Within the various areas the group of students from medical, biology, nurse, engineering, architect, psychology, and other courses, were chosen had experience of using these tools.RESULTSData obtained showed that in a sample of 907 students, 11.13% have already used inhalants and only 9.9% of them do not consume alcohol, although everyone has already tried it. Regarding frequency of use: 10% use only once a semester, 10% use 2 to 3 times a week and 80% used only once. About the population who use solvents and who do not consume alcohol, the first time they experienced alcohol was mainly before 13 (30%) and at 15 (30%). In this same group, the first time they tried drugs was mainly after the age of 18 (40%). Of the 101 undergraduates who reported having used solvents, 91 consume alcohol (90.09%). Of these, 40.65% stated that alcohol use had no relation to drug use. Thus, 59.35% stated that alcohol use was related to drug use.CONCLUSIONSThe hallucinatory effects of inhalant use are pleasurable, have a low cost, ease of availability, convenient packaging, rapidity of mood alteration and legal, explain almost partially the incidence of use for these students. Additionally, those who use need little money, require few contacts and take relatively low risks in relation to the law when experimenting, but suggest that volatile solvent use, even experimentation, is an early indicator of possible problematic drug use. Intervention programs for regular volatile solvent users should be based on treatment principles for alcohol and other drugs. This work was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration. CAAE(Br)67881517.1.0000.5511. All participants had full understanding and signed informed consent document.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Best practices for detecting and mitigating the risk of cell culture contaminants.

A variety of biological and chemical contaminants can adversely impact cells in culture, ranging from outright destruction of the culture, mutation, phenotypic changes to relatively minor changes in morphology, or growth rate. There are various approaches to detecting and mitigating the risk of biological or microbial contaminants in cell cultures, and these are discussed in this article. Chemical contaminants typically arise from improper handling or sourcing of cell culture reagents, glassware, or other types of consumables. These and other sources of chemical contaminants of cell cultures are discussed. The occurrence of chemical contamination is mitigated through adherence to best practices in sourcing and handling of such materials and by avoiding the use of volatile solvents within incubators that are used for maintaining cell cultures.

Fabrication and characterisation of ceramics via low-cost DLP 3D printing

A stereolithography-based additive manufacturing technique has been used for the fabrication of advanced ceramics. A customised 3D printer using a Digital Light Processing (DLP) projector as UV source has been built to fabricate green bodies from photosensitive resins loaded with 25–60wt% of alumina, 3- and 8-YSZ. The 3D-printed bodies were then sintered in the 1200–1500°C and exhibited thermal stability. As expected, higher ceramic loadings rendered objects with higher density for a given sintering temperature. The limit of solid loading in the resin is approximately 60% and beyond those contents, the extra ceramic appears as powder loosely adhered to the sintered objects. Photogrammetry was used to evaluate the accuracy of the 3D printing process and highlighted a marked deviation between the CAD model and the resulting object, particularly in the top part of the specimens, possibly due to the use of volatile solvents which cause changes in the photoresins used. Nevertheless, that problem may be overcome by thermostatising the printer vat and/or using solvents with higher boiling point. The results obtained suggest the potential application of low cost DLP 3D printing techniques to process ceramics for a number of applications including ceramic fuel cells, piezoelectrics, dental applications, etc.

Prediction of Ammonia Solubility in Ionic Liquids Using UNIFAC Model

Ionic liquid is a new type of green solvent, because of the nonvolatility, good dissolution properties, and high chemical stability. It is expected to replace the current extensive use of volatile solvents, to design environmental friendly new chemical process. However each cations and anions different from each other, combination into a huge number of ionic liquids, if its physical and chemical properties determined through the experiment, the cost is high. So it is highly needed to develop an effective and reliable method to predict the thermodynamic properties of the systems containing ionic liquid. Ammonia (NH3) solubility studies about the design and production of natural gas plays an important role. In this paper the solubility of NH3 in different ionic liquids are studied, and compared with the results predicted by UNIFAC model. The accurate calculation of the NH3 solubility in ILs is important in natural gas purification. UNIFAC model is selected to predict the solubility of NH3, which can decrease a plenty of experimental work in the laboratory. The new group NH3 is defined by regression of the experimental data collected from the literatures published to obtain the group-group interaction parameters between the components of NH3 and ionic liquids. The consistency test is carried out to examine the accuracy of prediction results. The solubility predicted by UNIFAC model is verified a perfect agreement with the experimental data provided in the literature at temperature range from 282.2 K to 355.8 K and pressure up to 25 bar, with an average relative deviation (ARD) less than 10 %. The results demonstrate that for system studied in this work, UNIFAC model can realize the solubility prediction successful. This predictive model is useful for predicting the NH3 solubility in imidazolium-based ionic liquids and providing the phase equilibrium data for the application of liquid natural gas and the relevant mass transfer separation in chemical engineering.

Gas‐Permeable Cellulose Template for Reduction of Template Damage and Gas Trapping in Microimprint Lithography of High Volume Manufacturing

A gas‐permeable cellulose template for microimprint lithography has been synthesized and characterized for the reduction of template damage and gas trapping caused by solvents and oxygen generated from cross‐linked materials. The 5 μm line‐pattern failure of the microimprinted UV cross‐linked liquid materials with 4.7 wt% acetone as a volatile solvent is solved by using the gas‐permeable cellulose template because of its increased oxygen permeability. The gas‐permeable cellulose template also allows the use of volatile solvents with high coating property and solubility into the microimprinted materials instead of the compounds and plastic resins conventionally used in mold injection. image

Sub-70 nm resolution patterning of high etch-resistant epoxy novolac resins using gas permeable templates in ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography

This study aimed to expand the resolution limits of epoxy novolac resins that have enhanced etch resistance as one of the desirable resist properties for next-generation devices. Epoxy novolac resins have high etch resistance. However, because epoxy novolac resins are either solid or semisolid at room temperature, and because the use of volatile solvents in resist can be a cause of pattern failure in nanoimprint lithography, epoxy novolac resins have been of limited utility as resist. Excellent sub-70 nm resolution patterning can be achieved by diluting 15 wt % acetone in an ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography using gas-permeable templates.

Ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography using cyclodextrin-based porous template for pattern failure reduction

An approach to ultraviolet (UV) nanoimprint lithography using a cyclodextrin-based porous template was investigated for the reduction of air trapping and template damage caused by gases such as nitrogen and oxygen generated from UV cross-linked materials. The accuracy of the printed pattern using UV nanoimprint lithography with the porous transparent template was improved because of enhanced material adsorption and increased permeability to gaseous species. The use of volatile solvents in the UV cross-linked materials for nanoimprint lithography has been limited because of high pattern failure rates. However, using the cyclodextrin-based porous template, the UV cross-linked materials with a 5 wt. % volatile solvent exhibited well-defined nanoscale patterns. Based on this study, acceptable chemistries for the UV cross-linked materials have been expanded, which will be beneficial for future device applications using UV nanoimprint lithography.

Hydrothermal liquefaction of de-oiled Jatropha curcas cake using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as catalysts and co-solvents

Biomass liquefaction using ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts has received appreciable attention, in renewable fuels and chemicals production, recently. However, issues associated with the production cost, long reaction time and use of volatile solvents are undeniably challenging. Thus, Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) emerged as promising and potential ILs substitutes. The hydrothermal liquefaction of de-oiled Jatropha curcas cake was catalyzed by four synthesized DESs as catalysts and co-solvents for selective extraction. Proximate and ultimate analyses including ash, moisture and carbon contents of bio-crude produced varied slightly. The higher heating values found ranges from 21.15±0.82MJ/kg to 24.30±0.98MJ/kg. The bio-crude yields obtained using ChCl–KOH DES was 43.53wt% and ChCl–p-TsOH DES was 38.31wt%. Bio-crude yield using ChCl–FeCl3 DES was 30.80wt%. It is suggested that, the selectivity of bio-crude could be improved, by using DESs as catalyst and co-solvent in HTL of biomass such as de-oiled J. curcas cake.

From industrial black liquor to pure phenolic compounds: A combination of catalytic conversion with ionic liquids extraction

The conversion, in a sustainable way, of paper industry wastes such as black liquor into value-added molecules is still challenging. Herein, a direct catalytic conversion of black liquor into an aqueous solution has been achieved at moderate temperature and pressure (<250°C, 2MPa). For this purpose, a multimetallic catalyst (Pd0.5/Ni1Cu1-Mg30AlOx) has been synthesized and fully characterized. In presence of this material, a carbon-based conversion of 12wt.% has been obtained. The final liquid is composed of value-added phenolic compounds (i.e., guaiacol, creosol…) and the reaction can be afforded up to five cycles without deactivation. The green chemistry concept consists of extracting these compounds without the use of volatile solvent and in safe operating conditions. For these reasons, the use of hydrophobic ionic liquids for the liquid–liquid extraction of these phenols has been investigated. The influences of the side chains of symmetric and asymmetric imidazolium-NTf2 as well as operational conditions (stirring rate and temperature) have been studied. As a result, [C1C6Im][NTf2] has been found to be efficient in one-step total extraction phenolic components contained in the solution issued from the catalytic conversion of black liquor. This study showed that the catalytic hydropyrolysis of black liquor could be considered as an alternative source of phenolic compounds to conventional fossil resources.

Inhalant Dependence: Data from a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Background:This study aims to understand the sociodemographic and clinical profile of inhalant abusers seeking treatment from a tertiary care psychiatric hospital in South India.Materials and Methods:The clinical charts of patients who utilized the psychiatric services of a tertiary care center in India for over 10 years were examined for the study.Results:The sample had an urban predominance, was mostly unemployed, and was all male. Most of them had an adolescent age of onset of inhalant use (mean — 16.23 years). All patients reported the use of volatile solvents as inhalants. One other substance dependence was identified in more than half of the sample. The psychiatric comorbidity included psychosis and depression. A comparison was made between patients who presented with inhalant dependence only (I) and inhalant-dependent individuals who also used other psychoactive substances apart from nicotine (IP). The inhalant-only group (I) had an earlier mean age at onset of substance use as compared to the IP group. All patients in the I group reported withdrawal symptoms compared to 77% of patients in the (IP) group (P=0.048). The IP group reported a significantly higher occurrence of aggression (54.5 vs. 19%, P=0.02), externalizing symptoms (77.3 vs. 42.9%, P=0.03), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (50 vs. 14.3%, P=0.02).Conclusion:Inhalant dependence is a serious health problem in adolescent subjects and is associated with high comorbidity of other substance dependence, psychiatric disorder, and externalizing spectrum disorder. There is a need for community-based prospective studies in this area from India.

Solvent shift method for anti-precipitant screening of poorly soluble drugs using biorelevant medium and dimethyl sulfoxide

96-well plate based anti-precipitant screening using bio-relevant medium FaSSIF (fasted-state simulated small intestinal fluid) is a useful technique for discovering anti-precipitants that maintain supersaturation of poorly soluble drugs. In a previous report, two disadvantages of the solvent evaporation method (solvent casting method) were mentioned: precipitation during the evaporation process and the use of volatile solvents to dissolve compounds. In this report, we propose a solvent shift method using DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). Initially, the drug substance was dissolved in DMSO at a high concentration and diluted with FaSSIF that contained anti-precipitants. To evaluate the validity of the method, itraconazole (ITZ) was used as the poorly soluble model drug. The solvent shift method resolved the disadvantages of the evaporation method, and AQOAT (HPMC-AS) was found as the most appropriate anti-precipitant for ITZ in a facile and expeditious manner when compared with the solvent evaporation method. In the large scale JP paddle method, AQOAT-based solid dispersion maintained a higher concentration than Tc-5Ew (HPMC)-based formulation; this result corresponded well with the small scale of the solvent shift method.

Application of Fluorescence to the Study of Crude Petroleum

Crude petroleum oils are complex mixtures of different compounds (mainly organic), which are obtained from an extensive range of different geological sources. The fluorescence of crude petroleum oils derives largely from the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, and this fluorescence emission is strongly influenced by the chemical composition (e.g., fluorophore and quencher concentrations) and physical characteristics (e.g., viscosity and optical density) of the oil. The fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) is increasingly used in petroleum technology due the availability of better optical detection techniques, because FS offers high sensitivity, good diagnostic potential, and relatively simple instrumentation. In this work we analyzed crude petroleum at different dilution in Nujol, a transparent mineral oil. The main objective of this work was to verify the possibility to measure crude oil emission spectroscopic without use of volatile solvents. The mixtures of nujol with different -crude oil concentrations were measured with a 10 mm optical path cuvette thus simplifying the fluorescence spectroscopy signal detection. The emission spectra were obtained by exciting the samples with a 400 W Xenon lamp at 350 nm, 450 nm and 532 nm. The emissions of the samples were collected perpendicularly with the excitation axis.

Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Among Adolescents: Prevalence, Correlates, and Co-Occurrence with Volatile Solvent Inhalation

Few studies have examined the prevalence of nitrous oxide (NO) inhalation or co-occurrence of NO and volatile solvent (VS) use in adolescents. Study aims were to (1) describe the independent and conjoint prevalence of NO and VS use in incarcerated youth, (2) compare adolescent users of both NO and VS inhalants (NO+VS) to users of NO-only, VS-only, and nonusers of NO and VS (NONS nonusers) with regard to demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics, and (3) conduct logistic regression analyses identifying correlates of NO use. Residents (N = 723) of Missouri Division of Youth Services were assessed with standardized psychosocial measures. Participants averaged 15.5 (SD = 1.2) years of age, were ethnically diverse and predominantly male. Lifetime prevalence of NO use was 15.8%. NO+VS users evidenced greater impairments compared to NO+VS nonusers. VS-only users evidenced impairments that were similar in kind but at lower prevalences compared to those displayed by NO+VS users, whereas NO-only youth had profiles that were similar to those of NO/VS nonusers. Psychiatric disorders, polydrug use, and temperamental fearlessness were correlates of NO use. NO+VS users were at high risk for behavioral and emotional problems. Screening and interventions for NO and VS inhalant use should be implemented in juvenile justice facilities.

Solvent use among young Irish adolescents — a growing concern for youth workers, teachers and parents?

The research aimed to identify ‘(1) current volatile solvent use practices, (2) health beliefs and perceived effects of volatile solvent use, (3) social dynamics of volatile solvent use, (4) significance of reputation, and (5) barriers to volatile solvent use intervention’ in a sample of Irish adolescents (Carroll et al, 1998, p1; Anderson &amp; Loomis, 2003). Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 20 adolescents who reported inhaling volatile solvents, during the course of doctoral research (n=1,400) investigating substance misuse among adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in Ireland. Their average age was 13.2 years, and they used a range of substances. Solvent users were found to be most commonly congregated in small peer and sibling groups and one young male also reported using alone. These young people indicated their average age of initiation of inhalant use as 10.3 years and most did not use inhalants after the age of 13 years. This coincided with first‐time alcohol use, at an average age of 12.5 years and experimental use of cannabis in some. All reported some awareness of short‐term medical risks involved in solvent use, and most commented on negative effects, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting. Teachers, probation and juvenile liaison officers, health promotion and drug education workers, youth workers, social workers, and parents should ‘familiarise themselves with the real world experiences of adolescent volatile solvent users’; in order to develop appropriate and timely drug education interventions (Carroll et al, 1998 p6).