Australian Institue of Criminology

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Inhalant Use and Disorder

Jupiters Hotel, Townsville
07 July 2003 - 08 July 2003

Introduction

The term 'inhalants' is often used to describe volatile substances that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive or mind-altering effect. A broad range of chemicals, found in hundreds of different household products, are misused as inhalants. These can be found in supermarkets, newsagencies, and hardware stores and include glue, petrol, paint, dry cleaning fluid and aerosols such as hairspray and deodorant. The response to inhalant misuse requires commitment and participation at Commonwealth, state and local levels, and partnership with professionals and with communities. The aim of this conference was to provide an opportunity for practitioners, researchers, policy-makers and community groups involved with inhalant misuse to discuss the topic, share knowledge and develop strategies to address the relevant issues. Papers presented to the conference deal with inhalant misuse from a wide range of perspectives, including drug policy, Indigenous issues, user surveys, law enforcement, government and industry initiatives and community responses, with a particular emphasis on preventive approaches and proactive programs.

Conference papers

Keynote address

Patterns of volatile substance misuse

  • Inhalant use in Australia : an overview
    Toni Makkai, Director of Research, Australian Institute of Criminology
  • Other drugs, other people, other places : the policy response to Indigenous petrol sniffing in Australia
    Peter d'Abbs, James Cook University; and Maggie Brady, Australian National University

Strategic frameworks

Research

Youth

  • Volatile substance misuse : experiences of the Townsville and Thuringowa youth justice service (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    David Olsen, Department of Families, Queensland
  • Paint on their hands : is paint sniffing really the issue? (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    Jeff Cheverton and Melissa Lucashenko, Youth Affairs Network, Queensland

Law enforcement responses

Community responses

  • Learning from and developing integrated responses to inhalant misuse in Brisbane
    Peter Forday, Department of Families, Queensland; and Tom Ogwang, Drug-ARM, Queensland
  • Community engagement in addressing volatile substance misuse (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    Jenny Madden, Community Solutions Inc
  • The Youth Well-being Program (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    David Mayawurrthalwuy, Alfred Wanambi and Andrew Dowadi, Darwin Skills Devlopment Scheme

Interventions

  • Exploratory study of volatile solvent use in Townsville teenagers (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    Adrian Hepi and Torres Woolley, James Cook University
  • Bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to inhalant abuse prevention (ABSTRACT ONLY)
    June Hintz, Mothers Against Drugs Inc
  • Mother's crying out for help
    Maria Walmby, Department of Health, Queensland

Government and industry initiatives

From perceptions to practice

Workshops