PAINT SNIFFING STILL AN ISSUE IN NEWMAN
BY TANGIORA HINAKI
A Newman Youth worker is frustrated about local youths sniffing paint, which has been ongoing for years.
Lee says many properties where youth are sniffing paint are condemned, and they are private homes.
“A lot of our young people are sniffing at vacant properties. No one got the right to walk into those properties and check them, but I had been going out to ensure they were safe. I don't find them dead at these properties.”
Although organisations have been meeting for over five years to discuss how to stop youth from taking volatile substances, it's still an issue.
“Some of the forums have come up with harm minimisation. You will see that Woolworths and IGA are locking up some of the Rexona’s. Anything that young people can sniff, they will lock them away. It's very helpful but as we know young people will go and find something else that will give them a high.
“It's just sad that over this time, I have been seeing this. I don't believe that we are dealing with any trauma. If there is anything for the young people, it's great that we can remove some items off the shelf, but they will always find something else.
Just the fact that I took a 10-minute walk through a property this morning and came out with rubbish bags full of empty water bottles with all sorts of coloured paint.”
Commissioner for Children and Young People WA Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, says that she has spoken with Pilbara children and young people. She spoke to a young girl who was bullied because of volatile substances.
“One young girl was being called cockroach and when I asked why, it was because she was chroming using cockroach bait spray. This is an absolute crisis for our children and young people and keeps cycling because we are attacking symptoms and not the cause. We have to have those services and supports. We often talk about needing rehabilitation, but we need detox before you can be in rehabilitation. We need to understand what’s going on with the young person that makes them go to those substances. We don’t need to say we will stop you and bring in laws; that’s only one part of it.”when I asked why, it was because she was chroming using cockroach bait spray. This is an absolute crisis for our children and young people and keeps cycling because we are attacking symptoms and not the cause. We have to have those services and supports. We often talk about needing rehabilitation, but we need detox before you can be in rehabilitation. We need to understand what’s going on with the young person that makes them go to those substances. We don’t need to say we will stop you and bring in laws; that’s only one part of it.”
Robby Chibawe, CEO of Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service, PAMS, said they are working on addressing volatile substance Use with Martu Children in Newman and Western Australian Desert communities.
BHP has also been funding the wages of an Aboriginal woman who works with families to end the paint sniffing problem.
Sarah MacLean, a professor from La Trobe University in Victoria said that Researchers and policymakers often ignore volatile substances.
“Although the number of people who use volatile substances is smaller than other drugs. The effects can be very devastating for individuals and their families.
It needs resources; it needs youth workers. It needs day activities for young people to do. It needs treatment for people who are using a lot and diversion for young people who have recently started up.”