As the trend of inhalant abuse continues to grow throughout the state, the Queensland Health Minister has called on the Chief Health Officer to convene a roundtable of industry retailers, community-based services and clinicians to discuss the ongoing issue.
Minister Steven Miles announced the move in State Parliament today asking the Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, to convene the forum.
It follows recent reports revealing that most people abusing inhalants, or 'choming' were under the age of 29.
"Chroming is a serious issue affecting some of the most vulnerable people in our community and heartbreakingly it's disproportionately affecting young people," Mr Miles said.
"Last financial year, there were 98 people who were admitted 141 times due to volatile solvent misuse.
"Sadly, of those 98 patients 45 were aged 10–19."
Mr Miles said inhalant abuse was "a complex social problem requiring support from government, industry and the community-based sector" and hoped aerosol manufactures looked to change their formulas.
"Just like the petrol reformulation it may be possible for manufactures to change their product to make them less intoxicating," he said.
"Unilever, to their credit, contacted me and acknowledged that one of their aerosol deodorant products is being misused by young people for the practice of chroming.
"I very much welcome their cooperation."
Groups eager to work together
Nathan Bollard from the Ted Noffs Foundation, a group that works on the ground with youth who are addicted to chroming in Logan south of Brisbane, welcomed the announcement.
"To bring everyone together on the issue will help us address it from different communities," he told ABC Radio Brisbane's Steve Austin.
"We've had success working with organisations and government agencies, especially Queensland Police Service (QPS), to get referrals on young people using these substances.
"We might not normally capture those people as they don't always come to our doors — we would welcome being part of the process."
Mr Bollard said the Minister's comments on pushing manufacturers to change their formulas was a good step forward, yet was not the only solution.
"It's definitely part of it, and the companies do want to make a change, but it's about harm minimisation," he said.
"For us it's about engagement with young people and talking about it one-on-one.
"Which helps us explain the dangers and helps us work through it with our counsellors.
Mr Bollard said some young people were openly abusing inhalants on the street.
"We see a lot of the use on the streets in groups with many young people even doing it through their t-shirts," he said.
A date has yet to be set for the round table meeting.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015. If someone is in need of urgent medical help call triple-0.
