The recently released report, ''Unintentional deaths from poisoning in young people'', showed that nine children under the age of 15 died from unintentional poisoning between 2002 and 2008.
Seven of the deaths - those of a 9-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and five 14-year-old boys - were from the recreational use of butane, lpg, or other hydrocarbons. All the deaths were deemed as unintentional or of undetermined intent, the report said.
Health Quality and Safety Commission chairman Prof Alan Merry said the abuse of gases and volatile liquids, such as butane, was more common among younger adolescents. Young adults used controlled or regulated substances.
Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee chairman Dr Nick Baker said it was alarming how easily children could obtain lethal agents.
The report revealed it was easy for young people to buy, or steal, butane cans from retailers, including dairies.
A national prevention strategy was needed to reduce the demand for and access to volatile substances.
The screening and intervention for at-risk youth needed improvement and young people, their families and the community in general needed to be made more aware of the problem.
National Poisons Centre director Wayne Temple said the report recommendations were ''sound''.
''It is difficult to know what motivates people to sniff butane and creating strategies to deal with it are difficult.''
That a 9-year-old boy had died from poisoning did not surprise him, he said.
''Nothing surprises me where poisoning is concerned.''
Mirror Services manager Deb Fraser said such deaths were preventable.
''And it's not just the deaths; it's the 2250 that end up in hospital beds from unintentional poisoning.''
Children experimented with substances and the community needed to be aware of the risks associated with volatile liquids and gases being so readily available.
