Major supermarkets lock up aerosol deodorants to combat 'chroming' in NT

Woolworths is installing secure deodorant cabinets in its stores across the Northern Territory. (Supplied: Woolworths)

Supermarket giant Woolworths is locking away all aerosol deodorant products in the Northern Territory to help reduce inhalant abuse among young people.

Chroming is a form of volatile substance abuse involving the inhalation of solvents such as deodorants or other household chemicals to get high.

Health professionals have long been concerned about the practice because it can lead to permanent brain damage.

Last month, Coles pulled all aerosol deodorants from the shelves of its Northern Territory stores.

The Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service said similar measures already in place in several other supermarkets in Katherine and Alice Springs have proven effective.

Health experts say inhaling solvents from aerosol products can cause brain damage. (Supplied)

He said hundreds of young people had previously been sniffing inhalants before the products were put into locked shelves.

"At that stage it was a major crisis," Mr McFarland said.

Woolworths said its Casuarina store in Darwin was the first to implement the new measure, with all outlets across the NT to have lockable cabinets by the end of August.

"With these new cabinets, we're hoping to significantly reduce the opportunity for misuse,"  the company's NT manager Scott Mackay said.

Customers will have to press a button on the side of the cabinet to get assistance from staff to access the products.

The Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS), which provides support services to young people and their families, welcomed the initiative.

"You've got to remember that young people are pretty opportunistic."

Elizabeth Stubbs says substance abuse is often linked to trauma.  (ABC News: Roxanne Fitzgerald)

Ms Stubbs said some young people turn to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, driven by deep traumas.

"People use substances for different reasons," she said.

Despite the introduction of the lockable cabinets, Mr McFarland said further preventative action was needed.

"The problem in Darwin is there are too many corner shops and petrol stations," he said.

"We think the only real way of having an effective supply reduction strategy is for the government to pass legislation that would allow the police the ability to require shops to have safe storage of their inhalants."

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the NT government has funded CAAPS to provide a volatile substance abuse program for young people.