Motivations behind VSA

There is a common misconception that those who become involved in volatile substance abuse are deviant young people who use volatile chemicals for the sole purpose of getting ‘high’. This generalisation makes no allowance for the complex motivations behind the actions of many young people, for whom the sensation of being ‘high’ is neither pleasurable or acceptable, but rather a means to an end.

As adults we must loose our preconceptions and break down any barriers between ourselves and the child to convey the key message that VSA is dangerous. The child who sniffs volatile substances is not necessarily the loner in the corner, he or she is not necessarily the bully or the child with an unhappy home life. The one thing that must be clear is that there is no stereotypical child who sniffs volatile substances.

Approaching solvent abuse

Therefore, when approaching VSA one should take into account the very individual reasons for which young people become involved. This is by no means a definitive list, but motivations may include:

• Experimentation - VSA can satisfy a youthful need to experiment. The buzz created by volatile substances, and the hallucinations which may accompany this, can provide new sensations in a culture which strives for ever greater thrills.
• Peer pressure - The power of peer pressure can often be underestimated during the teenage years, which are a time of self-discovery and personal growth. The pressure to be popular can make it difficult to resist friends' persuasion, even when there are dangers, and taking risks can seem an easy way to impress friends.
• Medical or psychological factors - Sniffing may arise as a symptom of another problem, rather than the cause. It can be a means of avoidance. When dealing with VSA, teachers should be aware of the effects of bereavement and divorce on young people, any mental or physical stresses associated with school or adolescence, or other emotional pressures, and how they may cope with these, and address the need for professional help for young people who use VSA as a coping mechanism.
• Accessibility - Volatile substances can appear an attractive alternative to drugs as they are cheap and easy to buy or steal, and many are freely available in the home.
• Boredom - Sniffing can satisfy a need for new, exciting and cheap social activities.
• To shock - The power to shock adults can be a means of asserting one's individuality during a typical period of conflict between parent and child.
• Social activity - Young people may see sniffing as comparable to their parents having a social drink at the pub.

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