| Summary: | This study is an analysis of the phenomenon of solvent abuse, involving an exploration of Blumor's model of social problem development. Based on the premise that existing research in Britain offers a simplified view of social problems, this study provides a more realistic account of the complexities involved in defining an issue such as solvent abuse, as a social problem.The data which is available from research on solvent abuse, particularly in America, and also in other parts of the world, is examined, with a view to contextualising the analysis in the U.K. as a whole, but in Scotland in particular.The main body of the study is based on an analysis of the responses to solvent abuse in our society, at both central and local levels. Data on solvent abuse in the U.K. is discussed, with a focus on Scotland, and an analysis of regional policies on solvent abuse in Strathclyde, Grampian, and Lothian Regions.This analysis of solvent abuse concludes that a large number of issues are involved, and whilst solvent abuse is often described as a social problem, for example in the popular media, it has not, from a sociological perspective, been treated as such.The contrasting and competing viewpoints on the type of problem solvent abuse is, therefore, makes it difficult to cope with.on the basis of the model of social problem development which is adopted in this study, it is not possible, at this time, to define solvent abuse as a social problem in our society.
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