2017-18 report: Longitudinal research into petrol sniffing and other substance abuse trends in Indigenous communities
A study into the prevalence of petrol sniffing in 25 Indigenous communities has revealed petrol sniffing continued to decline between 2017 and 2018. In 11 of these communities, comparable data is available from earlier surveys of petrol sniffing prevalence, conducted from 2005-07. In these communities, the total estimated numbers of people sniffing petrol declined by 95.2 per cent from 2005-07 to 2017-18.
The study demonstrates:
- the long-term benefits of continuing to make low aromatic fuel available,
- that the sharp drop in petrol sniffing numbers brought about by the introduction of low aromatic fuel in earlier years has been sustained, with some communities even recording a further drop, and
- if low aromatic fuel were removed from communities, there would be a significant risk of petrol sniffing outbreaks returning.
The study also recognises that the availability and use of youth, sport and recreational services in communities has an important influence on reducing the demand for volatile substances and other drugs among young people.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency commissioned the study. It is based on fieldwork conducted in 25 Indigenous communities across Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory between December 2017 and October 2018. The University of Queensland led the study. This is the fourth survey funded by the Australian Government to monitor the impact of Low Aromatic Fuel (LAF) on petrol sniffing since 2005-07. For the first time research also systematically gathered data on misuse of alcohol and other drugs, including other volatile inhalants.
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