NEW research has found that petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory has declined by 30 per cent since 2011.
A study by Menzies School of Health Research examined 41 communities across northern Australia, six of which were in the Katherine region.
Sunrise Health Service director Michelle Dowden said the reduction in numbers of people who sniffed petrol in the Katherine area was noticeable.
However, she said there was still a need to focus on increasing the health standards of people in Indigenous communities.
“We’re more focused on programs that enable people to make good choices in regards to their health,” she said.
“We wouldn’t be happy if petrol sniffing started up again.”
Menzies researcher Professor Peter d’Abbs said there was a correlation between communities using low aromatic fuel (LAF) and the decrease in people sniffing petrol.
“The introduction of low aromatic fuel in remote communities has been associated with a continuing decline of the number of young people sniffing petrol,” he said.
“In addition to an overall decrease in the prevalence of sniffing, people who do sniff tend to do so less frequently.
“Less harm is being caused by petrol sniffing in Australia’s remote and rural Indigenous communities than previously.”
The research had also found an increase in cannabis and alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities, but it was not directly related to the introduction LAF.
“While petrol sniffing is often part of a pattern of opportunistic poly drug use, the rise in cannabis use predates the introduction of LAF into communities,” Professor D’Abbs said.
The majority of Katherine service stations have been using LAF for several years, but the Federal government mandated its compulsory use in February.
The changes to the laws meant petrol stations in Katherine, Pine Creek and Mataranka would be hit with fines of up to $54,000 if they sold standard 91 octane fuel.
