Salvation Army‘s Major Brendan Nottle: ‘Some of the people taking large amounts of soap powder are not using it for their clothing’

Melbourne Salvation Army workers say one particular item is “flying off the shelves”, sparking concerns homeless people may be using it for drug use.

Washing powder has been ‘flying off the shelves’ at the Salvation Army’s Project 614 cafe. Picture: Jason Edwards

Huge demand for soap powder donated to a charity has triggered concerns homeless people may be using it for drug use.

Salvation Army welfare workers have noticed the powder “flying off the shelves” to regular visitors to the Project 614 cafe in Bourke St, which also distributes free food.

Project director Major Brendan Nottle said that people were specifically requesting boxes of the washing powder, with some coming in a few times a day.

“Clearly, some of the people that are taking large amounts of soap powder are not using it for their clothing, and we are hearing rumours that they are using it to inhale the soap powder,” he said.

Brendan Nottle says people are specifically requesting boxes of washing powder. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“It’s the same 20 people reappearing all the time, and it’s raised concerns for their health and the health of others.”

Major Nottle said the Salvos’ cafe was limiting access to the washing powder as it sought expert advice on the issue.

The Salvation Army’s general manager alcohol, drugs and other addictions, Kathryn Wright, said the agency didn’t know of any clients accessing services who had been snorting or ingesting detergents.

“We are, however, aware that detergents are sometimes used, along with many other substances, to cut or pad out injectable drugs,” she said.

It’s thought some of the washing powder is not being use for laundry. Picture: iStock

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondi said he wasn’t aware of any evidence of washing powder having any psychoactive properties nor being used to “bulk up” illicit drugs.

“We are conscious that in the drug and alcohol space, in situations like this, people often assume the worst case scenario. With cost of living pressures, it is probable that people are using washing powder to wash their clothes.”

Dean Rogut, alcohol and other drug cluster lead at Cohealth, said his team had no reports of laundry powder being used as a drug substitute.

“Although it is not uncommon for illicit drugs to be mixed with a cutting agent, it would be less likely that a soap-based substance would be used as it would foam up when mixed with water, and would be highly toxic to the consumer,” he said.

“If people are regularly taking laundry powder from support services, it’s likely they are using it to wash their clothes, or to pass on to friends and family who are doing it tough.”

However, Major Nottle said the type of people asking for detergent, and the frequency with which they did, suggested it was not cost of living.

“It’s the same people reappearing regularly and asking for the same product, a person can only have so much need for washing powder,” he said.