Updated
Photo: It is believed about 40 people, including children as young as 12 years old, are now sniffing petrol on a regular basis at Katherine. (ABC TV)
An Indigenous community group says a petrol sniffing epidemic in the Northern Territory town of Katherine is getting worse.
Kalano community president Lisa Mumbin says more people from remote areas are coming to the town, 250 kilometres south of Darwin, because they find it easier to access petrol.Ms Mumbin says action needs to be taken to combat the problem.
She says a forward step would be to introduce low aroma Opal fuel into Katherine and surrounding areas.
"There is going to have to be a direction taken here, maybe in Opal fuel," she said.
"It is a very serious issue.
"It is not like alcohol, petrol is really different and the effect is so great."
It is believed about 40 people, including children as young as 12 years old, are now sniffing petrol on a regular basis in the town.
A local resident says his daughter has been sniffing for more than four years after becoming addicted at 13 years of age.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-09/petrol-sniffing-outbreak-roundup/3879948
Community groups unite to tackle petrol sniffing
Posted
Photo: Many voices: A meeting hears proposals to embrace Opal fuel in Katherine to combat petrol sniffing. (ABC: Emma Masters.)
A collection of community interest groups from a Top End town have moved to support the introduction of a petrol that doesn't give sniffers a "high".
About 70 representatives gathered in Katherine to discuss how to address a spike in petrol sniffing in the region.The meeting heard that children as young as six were known to be sniffing petrol in one community.
A health worker moved for the group to push for the rollout of low aromatic Opal fuel in the town, about 300 kilometres south of Darwin.
Katherine Town Council chief executive officer David Lawyer told the group the issue needs to be put to the wider community.
The group is expected to vote on the proposal at a later date.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-29/katherine-petrol-sniffing-meeting/3921400?section=nt
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