Right now I am researching drug problems in Rural Australian communities Turn down the tap in Alice Springs http://www.abc.net.au/alicesprings/stories/s2086615.htm Also Overview of petrol sniffing in remote Aboriginal communities History of use In the Top End, the earliest record of Aboriginal people sniffing petrol was in 1951. It is thought that American service men stationed in the Top End during the war introduced Aboriginal people to the practice. It now occurs widely throughout remote communities of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, northern parts of South Australia and Queensland. How many people sniff petrol? It is difficult to maintain current figures on the number of people sniffing in the Northern Territory. The number of people sniffing petrol goes up and down over time as young people experiment or sniff occasionally. 'Boss' or chronic sniffers may move in and out of communities. It is thought that they are often responsible for encouraging young people to take it up. In Australia between 1981-1991, there were 60 Aboriginal males and 3 Aboriginal females whose deaths were associated with petrol sniffing. They ranged in age from 11 to 32. The causes of death included pneumonia, cardiac failure/arrest, aspiration and burns. Twenty of these deaths were people who either lived in the NT or who were treated in NT hospitals (Brady 1995c:4;6-7). In 1985, there were 14 communities in Central Australia reporting young people sniffing. In July 1997, it was estimated that there were around 200 young people sniffing petrol across 10 communities in Central Australia. Approximately 40 were classified as 'chronic' sniffers Patterns of sniffing petrol Generally groups of young people will inhale petrol together. Each person inhales from his or her own can of petrol or petrol soaked cloth until the person is intoxicated. The person may repeatedly inhale petrol fumes over a period of several hours to maintain the desired level of intoxication. Usually the sniffing stops when the petrol supply runs out or when the sniffer becomes too hungry or tired to keep it up. Petrol sniffing and the Law in the NT Some communities in Western Australia and South Australia have passed local by-laws to declare petrol sniffing an offence. Some people argue that it should be made illegal everywhere. Other people argue that sniffers would be sent to jail instead of being treated for petrol misuse. In the NT, local government legislation currently does not allow similar by-laws to be made. In the NT, under section 18 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1993, it is illegal to sell or supply petrol to anyone when it is known or should be known that the person will use it as a drug or supply it to someone else to use as a drug. The Community Welfare Act provides a statutory mechanism to protect sniffers (or any child and young person) under the age of 18 who are 'in the need of care'.