A 30 year-old man has been arrested after allegedly suppling petrol to two youths at the Karnte Camp in Alice Springs.
Senior Sergeant Dave Richardson said the youths aged 13 and 14 admitted to sniffing the petrol after receiving it from the man.
“It is a very sad thing to see young people head down this path, the sniffing of volatile substances is incredibly dangerous.”
Senior Sergeant Richardson said the man was located by Police and members from the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID) at a house in the camp and at the time appeared under the influence and smelt strongly of petrol.
The man was transported to the Alice Springs Hospital for assessment and has been given notice to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court on March the 5th.
SAID is a Federally funded initiative established in Alice Springs in 2006 to coincide with the rollout of Opal fuel (a non-sniffable petrol) and to restrict the availability of regular unleaded petrol and other illicit substances to communities within the cross-boarder region of NT, SA and WA. A northern SAID unit has also been established in Katherine.
Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention legislation was also established at this time.
Petrol sniffing has been a massive problem, particularly in the remote areas of the Northern Territory and continues to affect communities and individuals with serious health issues.
“Violent and irrational behaviour is often a side-effect to volatile substance abuse.” Said Senior Sergeant Richardson.
“Ultimately, it can prove fatal.”
