On this page:  Police | Ambulance and other frontline health workers

The National Inhalants Information Service (NIIS) exists to increase access to and availability of a wide range of information and resources on inhalants abuse to the whole community.  Specific resources are available for Police personnel as well as Ambulance and other frontline health workers, both online and through the NIIS database.  

Police

Queensland Police Service. Volatile substance misuse. [website]

Crime and Misconduct Commission (2005), The places of safety model: an evaluation. Responding to volatile substance misuse, Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission. [pdf - 432 kB]

Crime and Misconduct Commission (2005), Police powers and VSM: a review. Responding to volatile substance misuse, Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission. [pdf - 2.81 MB]

Giskes, Renee (2003) Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 (Qld): new search, seizure and detention powers to tackle ‘chroming’. Queensland Parliamentary Library. [pdf - 152 kB]

Gray, Dennis et.al. (2006) Policing, volatile substance misuse, and Indigenous Australians, Monograph series no. 16, [Canberra] National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund. [pdf - 1.04 MB]

Nicholas, Roger (2007) Alcohol and other drug problems among Indigenous Australians from rural and remote regions: a policing perspective. Marden, S.A.: Australasian Centre for Policing Research.

Nicholas, Roger (2004) The policing implications of volatile substance misuse. Marden, S.A.: Australasian Centre for Policing Research.

Victoria. Department of Human Services.Frequently asked questions – for alcohol and drug agencies: interagency protocol between Victoria Police and nominated agencies. [pdf - 126 kB]

Victoria. Department of Human Services, Interagency protocol between Victoria police and nominated agencies: Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances (volatile Substances) Act 2003. [pdf - 198 kB]

Ambulance and other frontline health workers

Emergency first aid found here.

Sudden Sniffing Death
Some inhalants have an immediate effect on the heart producing an irregular heartbeat. Butane and propane are two gases that have been linked to sudden sniffing death syndrome - where the stress on the heart proves to be fatal.  It is generally advised that people who come into contact with inhalant users be aware of this syndrome and not chase or place the user under any additional stress. 

Queensland Police Service. Volatile substance misuse. [website]
(Note: The Joint Ambulance and Police Volatile Substance Misuse Training report can be found here.)

Queensland Ambulance Service. Volatile Substance Misuse (VSM): 'Fact sheet" for QAS paramedics [pdf - 259 kB]

Rural ambulance of Victoria, Clinical Practice guidelines.
see section on management of overdose (adult and paediatric) [website]

Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association (CARPA) guidelines.
see section 3 - Mental health and drug problems - Petrol Sniffing [pdf - 73 kB]

{ page updated: 19 October 2009 }