Druglink article 1986 – The rise and fall of the solvents panic by Richard Ives

In the ’60s it was amphetamine-aided mods and rockers clashes that outraged the nation. Similarly a moral panic over solvents spread through the UK from the mid ’70s and apparently faded in the ’80s, leaving a legacy of damaging misconceptions. ‘Shocking’ punk sniffers and ‘shocked’ adults joined in mutual provocation raising the temperature of public reaction. Richard Ives explains how this unlikely alliance elevated glue sniffing to public concern number one.

Rise and fall of the solvents panic (PDF)