Abbott backs anti-petrol sniffing initiative

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott says the message from a new anti-petrol sniffing kit should be able to reach an addict who sniffed during a coronial inquest near Uluru.

Stephen Uluru sniffed petrol at his mother's side while she was giving evidence to an open-air hearing at Mutitjulu last month.

Tony Abbott says he will consider translating the English-language flip-chart into Aboriginal languages if that helps to spread the message that sniffing is deadly.

Mr Abbott says even if chronic sniffers like Mr Uluru are unable to read the warnings, their families can intervene.

"Maybe he won't but the people who love him hopefully will and rather than permit him to wander, sniffing petrol all day, they will insist that he attend some kind of rehabilitation program," he said.

The flip-chart launched in Darwin today by Mr Abbott will be used by social workers delivering rehabilitation and education programs.

Dr Sheree Cairney helped develop the kit and says it shows exactly how petrol sniffing affects people's health.

"So communities know their own community, they know their own people, they're the ones who know how to deal with these problems but they don't have access to medical information," she said.

"So whether it's in English or where necessary local languages, once they know the medical consequences of sniffing petrol then they're much better equipped."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/petrol.html
Pubdate: Fri, 23 September 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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