Son died from solvent abuse

Angela Murphy 1581 - 1581 • Last updated 17 Apr 2009 11:00

THE mum of a young man who died after sniffing a can of deodorant wants to turn her heartache into a warning for others.

Devastated Elaine Dorans is still mourning the loss of youngest son Scott, 22, who died instantly after buzzing the everyday aerosol.

But she is determined to let other people know her story so that no more young people die unnecessarily.

Brave Elaine said: 'Losing a child is the worst pain imaginable - your whole life is shattered.

'Every day I wake up and think Scott should still be here.

'We are told about the dangers of cigarettes and alcohol all the time but there are not enough warnings about solvent abuse.

'I think parents who have been affected by it are too embarrassed to talk about it because it"s kind of a taboo subject.

'Cigarette packets have a big warning sign on them, but aerosols have such a small warning you would need a magnifying glass to see them.'

She revealed that the promising ice hockey player tried sniffing aerosols a year earlier after feeling depressed.

But luckily she caught him and it wasn"t until January 29 that he tried it again, with fatal consequences.

Elaine, of Avon Drive, Linwood, added: 'Scott had been in a good mood and went round to visit Franklin who he was very close to.

'He came back and went straight upstairs.

'Normally I would shout, "Is that you in?", but for some reason I didn"t that night.

'I was watching television and Scott went back to his brother"s saying he was taking some food round.

'Then at 11.30pm I heard battering on the door and lots of shouting.

'I looked out of Scott"s bedroom window at the front of the house and Franklin"s neighbour was in the street shouting that there were paramedics at the house.'

Oldest son Franklin, 30, was devastated after finding Scott lying helpless on his living room floor.

Franklin said: 'I left him sitting on the couch and went to bed.

'A wee while later, something woke me up and when I went through to the living room.

'I saw Scott"s eyes rolling about in his head and he was foaming at the mouth.

'It feels as if my heart has been grabbed out.

'The only consolation is that he died peacefully.'

Paramedics tried to save Scott and rushed him to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

But despite the doctors" best efforts, nothing could revive him.

The former St Benedict"s High pupil was due to enrol on a welding course at Reid Kerr College later this month and is described as being a bright, popular person.

During the same week as Scott"s death, The Gazette reported how a 13-year-old girl was found sniffing an aerosol in the toilets at the same school.

Now 49-year-old Elaine hopes that by telling her story, parents will speak to their children about the dangers of aerosols.

She also hopes that she will be able to go visit local schools to talk about her experiences in an effort to save lives.

Up to 10 young people die every year in Scotland from solvent abuse.

The heartbroken mum has been in contact with John O"Brien who set up the Lee O"Brien Solvent Trust (LOST) campaign group after his 16-year-old-son died sniffing lighter fluid in 2003.

John said: 'There are many thousands of Scots kids taking their lives in their hands by sniffing ordinary aerosols.

'I don"t think the government is doing nearly enough to warn kids or their parents.'

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'We continue to work with a range of partners to highlight the dangers of volatile substance abuse and reduce the risks and incidence of harm.'

LOST runs a 24-hour helpline on 07910483525 or you can visit www.thelost.org.uk.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 15 Apr 09

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