Rehab for sniffers

Residential centres plan.

In an Australian first, Territory petrol sniffers are to be housed in residential rehab centres, it was learned last night.

But the service will not be available to people suffering serious sniffing-related brain injuries or to kids under the age of 13.

The NT Government will make a nationwide call for tenders to provide the service.

The rehabilitiation centres will cater for Territorians with volatile substance abuse problems, such as petrol and paint sniffers.

There will be four services - two in Darwin and two in Alice Springs - catering for under 18s and adults.

Community Services Minister Marion Scrymgour said the services would offer a culturally-sensitive environment in which to treat sniffers. Families would be a part of the treatment and rehabilitation process.

A 2004 NT Government report found about 360 young Territorians sniff petrol - mostly in remote communities.

It also found children as young as five were sniffing and some mothers were using petrol-soaked rags to calm their babies.

Following the report, the Territory Government developed a $10 million plan to tackle the problem - including new laws banning petrol sniffing.

Part of this funding will go towards the residential rehabilitation centres. Under the program, sniffers will be able to check themselves in for voluntary treatment.

But for the first 12 months the service will only be for people on treatment orders - issued by a court or police.

Sniffers can be ordered to undergo treatment for up to two months - or longer with Ministerial approval.

They will also undergo medical and mental health assessments to determine their suitability for the program.

People with "extreme levels" of brain injury will not get treatment.

Sniffers under the age of 13 are also unlikely to get access to the program - and will be treated under existing Government mechanisms.

Ms Scrymgour said the three-year service would also include after-care and follow-up treatment capabilities.

"Treating an individual in a service in town doesn't stop them fromm returning to substance abuse once they go back to their community," she said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 09 July 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Paul Dyer
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283