Supply reduction strategies attempt to reduce or disrupt the availability of products available to inhalant users. This includes changing chemical formulas of products to make them less attractive to inhalant users, making supply of products such as spray paint illegal to persons under the age of 18, and ensuring inhalant products are stored securely away from potential users. Several strategies have already been put in place around Australia. See the Specific Inhalants page for additional information regarding petrol and paint, including user information and supply reduction programs. Changing product formulas
Inhalant products can be changed in several ways to make them less attractive to inhalant users. The product can be modified to reduce the amounts of volatile chemicals, the chemicals can be removed or substituted with less volatile chemicals, or deterrents can be added to the product to make it less attractive to the user.
Opal Fuel
Opal fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel for use in spark ignition engines. It has very low levels of compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylene. These compounds are believed to be associated with the narcotic effects from sniffing petrol. The principal components in Opal fuel are pure hydrocarbons such as octane. Opal fuel has a characteristic sweet smell readily identified as petrol and is distinct from the more pungent smell of regular unleaded. Opal fuel also has very low levels of sulphur, less than 10ppm and meets the National Fuel Quality Standards Act of 2000, Petrol determination of 2001.
Opal fuel has been assessed and compared with other types of fuel by an independent professional toxicologist. The toxicology tests concluded that, “all fuels are potentially toxic, but in terms of chronic exposure Opal fuel is the least toxic of all the fuels assessed”.
Low aromatic paint
White Knight Paints
All locally produced aerosol paints are now toluene free reducing their attractiveness as inhalants. [website]
The Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service (CAYLUS) has been working with retailers to help reduce the incidence of paint sniffing. SuperCheap Autos has started to sell a brand of paint that contains a reduced amount of volatile solvents making it less attractive to sniffers. This has resulted in a decrease in the level of paint sniffing in the community. Read about it in the CAYLUS December Newsletter.[pdf - 2.02 MB]
Adding deterrents to inhalants
As reported in the NIAT report, in 2003 the Victorian Department of Human Services contracted the CSIRO to look at the feasibility of adding bittering agents to petrol, butane gas and aerosol spray paint. Mercaptans are odourous chemicals that have been used historically as stenching agents in town gas supplies; they were identified as potential additives for inhalants. Due to their sulphur component they have a very unpleasant smell.
It was reported that adding enough mercaptans to petrol to have a deterrent effect would then result in the petrol containing sulphur levels in excess of the levels allowed under the Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts guidelines. Also mentioned was that high levels of sulphur may have an effect on the operation of engine systems. With butane gas and aerosols, the main problem appeared to be with the process of adding the mercaptan. As many inhalant products are imported into Australia in a packaged form, this would make the further process of product modification expensive. Additionally. it was noted that legitimate consumers might find the addition of such chemicals unpleasant.
Legislation
It is an offence in Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory to knowing supply an inhalant to a person for the purpose of intentional inhalation.
Queensland
-Section 23 of the Summary Offences Act 2005.
Storage of inhalant products
Retailers, especially those in high risk areas, who sell products targeted by inhalant users, can take preventative measures aimed at counteracting theft and minimising access. These measures include storing products close to or behind the front counter, in secure cages or shelving or alternatively removing them from visual sight completely.
For more information look in the database. Use search terms such as: Supply reduction, prevention, intervention.
