Wholesaler worries kava ban will lead to drug abuse

The sole wholesaler of kava in the Northern Territory says it expects legal kava supplies to run out in Arnhem Land over the next few weeks as a result of the Federal Government's ban on commercial quantities.

Lanaphuy Homelands Association in Arnhem Land supplies five retailers and has strongly opposed the ban, arguing kava is not as damaging as alcohol and tobacco.

Warehouse supplies are forecast to run out this week.

The association's Rick Norton says people will soon start looking for more damaging alternatives.

"There is a lot of marijuana in these communities," he said.

"They're used by different sections of the community, often younger people, but people may start consuming that.

"There's still plenty of alcohol available from the take away outlets in Nhulunbuy, so people may start gravitating to town."

Mr Norton says the legal trade of kava ensured it was used responsibly and prohibition will not work.

"There's a very high likelihood that it will simply be replaced with either black market kava or other substances," he said.

He says one of the biggest fears is a move towards petrol sniffing.

The Federal Government says it has allocated extra funding to the Northern Territory to combat drug and alcohol abuse.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tues, 31 July 2007
Source: Australian Broadcasting Commission (Australia-Web)
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/