Sniffing culture maims and kills

Petrol sniffing may have played a part in up to 60 Aboriginal deaths in the NT in the past seven years, and is seen as a ``viable lifestyle choice'' by some young Aborigines, a coronial inquest has heard.

The NT Coroner is investigating three of the deaths, including a 14-year-old who had been experimenting with the volatile substance while visiting family at Willowra, north of Alice Springs.

All three suffocated in their remote communities last year after falling asleep with a container of petrol held close to their faces under a blanket.

Two died at Mutitjulu, a dysfunctional community of about 400 near Uluru, one of Australia's most iconic tourist attractions.

``Brain-injured sniffers in wheelchairs are a common sight in Mutitjulu,'' deputy coroner Helen Roberts told the inquest in Alice Springs yesterday.

``Many sniffers continue to sniff despite their disabilities.''

The deaths come amid alarming levels of substance abuse in remote NT communities, where a sense of helplessness and lack of money, jobs and education are driving young men, particularly, to slowly kill themselves with petrol, the inquest heard.

Sniffing had become a tolerated and entrenched behaviour for many communities, with families living in fear of unpredictable outbursts of violence from sniffers, and overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness to stop their destructive behaviour.

The 14-year-old died while sniffing for the first time at Willowra.

The court heard he was found by his grandmother lying with a bottle to his nose after just missing a visit by rehabilitation workers to the community.

The two other deceased, aged 21 and 37, were chronic sniffers at Mutitjulu who continued their deadly habit.

That was despite one of them suffering two major accidents which left him in hospital with serious burns.

``Their long-term friends were sniffers. It was their lifestyle,'' Ms Roberts said.

``It is seen as a viable lifestyle choice by young people.''

The inquest is the second into petrol sniffing in the NT.

NT Coroner Greg Cavanagh said the issue wasn't as simple as a need for greater funding.

``Money just doesn't solve the problem ... (for) a dysfunctional community, does it?'' he said.

Mutitjulu, for example, had been without a sport and recreation officer for some time as the community was unable to fill in an application for a replacement, despite the funding available, the inquest heard.

As the traditional owners of Uluru, Mutitjulu received money from tourist entry fees but this was not reflected in community services.

``The vast majority of that money is spent on motor vehicles, legal and illegal drugs,'' Ms Roberts said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Karen Michelmore
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283