NEW FIGURES revealing a dramatic fall in the number of Scots killed by solvent abuse have been put down to the efforts of voluntary organisations dedicated to tackling the problem.

The results of the latest annual study by St George’s University in London which show only one person in Scotland died from inhaling solvents in 2004, compared with six in 2003 and eight the year before, have been hailed as fantastic news by Fife solvent campaigner John O’Brien.

However, he claimed were it not for charities such as his own, more children would have died.

Mr O’Brien, from Methil, formed the Lee O’Brien Solvent Trust (LOST) in 2002 following the death of his son from solvent misuse.

With the help of family members, he set up a counselling and support service for young people and parents across the UK and began a high-profile campaign for a change in the law on solvent sales.

He amassed thousands of signatures on a petition, canvassed MSPs and MPs and, as a result, persuaded ministers to introduce a nationwide test purchasing scheme to stop retailers selling butane gas to under 18s.

LOST now has a committee of 10 volunteers who speak to schools and young people’s groups, and the charity has kept solvent abuse in the public eye.

Speaking following publication of the study’s results, Mr O’Brien said, “It’s fantastic news and it’s all down to the hard work of groups such as the LOST organisation.

“If it wasn’t for groups like us banging the drum, nothing would have happened.”

The figures also revealed that the one death in Scotland compared with 47 across the UK, and Mr O’Brien added, “Scotland has gone from being the worst place in the UK to the best place in the UK over four years and that’s really good.”

He said, however, that one death was still one too many and he called for more funding to allow LOST to continue its campaign.

“I can identify with the parents of that one boy who died because I lost my own son,” he said.

“We need money to help us educate children and eliminate solvent abuse in Scotland completely.”

Deputy justice minister Hugh Henry also welcomed the reduction in the number of deaths and said the Executive was committed to ensuring that young people, parents and retailers were aware of the dangers.

*PICTURED: Mr O’Brien.