Petrol sniffing in Australia
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Petrol sniffing is a form of substance abuse where a person deliberately inhales petrol fumes for the intoxicating effect.
Petrol sniffing appears mainly to occur among remote indigenous communities. The reason people use petrol is similar to why people abuse other drugs in other places. The remoteness of the communities, coupled with the ready accessibility of petrol, probably make its use common in these areas.
Petrol sniffing has become a very large problem in Australia among Aboriginal communities. The practice was first observed there in 1951, and is believed to have been introduced by US servicemen stationed in the nation's Top End during World War II.[1]
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[edit] Patterns of petrol sniffing
In Australia, petrol sniffing now occurs widely throughout remote communities of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, northern parts of South Australia and Queensland. 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 they are often responsible for encouraging young people to take it up.
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.
In Australia between 1981-1991, there were 60 Aboriginal males and three 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.
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.
In some communities many children and youths might try petrol sniffing at least once or twice. Most of these 'experimental' users will not become regular or long-term sniffers. Recently, there have been reports of young Aboriginal people sniffing petrol in the urban areas around Darwin and Alice Springs.
[edit] Effects of petrol sniffing
The immediate effects of petrol sniffing are a feeling 'high' or happy (euphoria), dizziness, sensations of numbness, feeling very light, feeling not connected to surroundings (disassociation).
Later effects include giddiness, feeling friendly, hallucinations, strange behaviours, muscle weakness, loss of motor co-ordination, slowed reflexes, slurred speech, impaired judgement, nausea, coughing and sneezing.
After sniffing, 'hangovers' and headache may last several days.
A range of serious problems can result from sniffing petrol, including pneumonia, asphyxiation, burns, coma, seizures, malnutrition, permanent brain damage, injuries and sudden death.
[edit] Social effects
Sniffing is sometimes seen as a symptom of a family's lack of control over children. However, sniffing can occur in families that provide a lot of care for their children and do not seem to have many problems.
Young people, especially those who become long-term, regular sniffers, often become isolated from their families and community. This isolation can make it harder to keep in touch with the sniffer and encourage him or her to stop sniffing.
In addition to family problems, there is a wide range of possible social problems associated with petrol sniffing such as feelings of distress, anxiety and grief for the community; violence and damage to property, violent crime, stresses on the juvenile justice system and stresses on youth agencies and support services.
Not all people who sniff petrol develop problems. Some adults will say that they sniffed when they were children and have no obvious problems. Consequently, some communities may not consider petrol sniffing to be as dangerous or potentially harmful as health staff do. Communities may be more likely to see petrol sniffing as a problem when it is actually causing direct problems in the community - such as severe health problems in the sniffers or disruption or violence in the community.
[edit] Sniffing in pregnancy
It has been found that young women who have sniffed petrol often stop when they become pregnant. Even if a woman has stopped, she may have a smaller baby and may need additional health care during and after the pregnancy. There is some evidence of birth defects and disabilities in babies born to women who sniffed petrol.
[edit] Withdrawal
Regular use of inhalants leads to tolerance. Withdrawal symptoms may include chills, headaches, abdominal pains, muscular cramps and hallucinations.
[edit] Chemicals in Petrol
Petrol is an organic substance derived from crude oil found underground. It contains a mixture of volatile, toxic hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbons are highly volatile and rapidly absorbed through the lungs. They act as central nervous system depressants, similar to alcohol, and may contribute to brain damage.
Substitution of petrol for non-sniffable Opal fuel has made a difference in some communities.
[edit] See also
- Inhalant (Solvent abuse)
- Mt Theo Program
- Opal (fuel)
