Woolworths introduces security feature amid rising substance abuse

The supermarket is rolling out a strict new security measure in stores in a bid to tackle a rising health issue sweeping Australia.

A video showing an everyday item locked up in a glass security cabinet in Woolworths has gone viral as Australians praise the supermarket for taking steps to prevent a rising health crisis in the country.

TikTok user @randomness_finds revealed cans of spray deodorant had recently been locked up in a southeast Brisbane store, posting a video of the supermarket’s recent bell feature to TikTok.

The move comes in response to a growing substance abuse issue known as “huffing” or “chroming” where people inhale the contents of deodorant cans to get high.

Coles and Woolworths started locking up their deodorant can supplies last year in a number of Australian towns as a deterrent following a rise in thefts of the basic grocery item.

A Woolworths spokesperson said the initiative was currently rolling out across a number of Queensland stores and would be completed by mid-May, adding the decision had been made in conjunction with local police.

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A TikTok user has shared a video taken at a Brisbane Woolworths showing deodorant cans in a new security cabinet. Picture: TikTok/randomfinds

Shoppers now have to ring a bell to be able to buy the health product. Picture: TikTok/randomfinds

“At Woolworths, we want to play our part in reducing the abuse of these products in Queensland,” Woolworths Queensland state manager Danny Baldwin told news.com.au.

“With these new cabinets, we’re hoping to significantly reduce the opportunity for misuse while continuing to offer access to the products where our customers expect to find them [in the health and beauty aisle].”

Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Lunney, who leads the Brisbane City Child Protection and Investigation Unit, said the aim of the partnership was to “address volatile substance misuse”.

“One of the key aims is to reduce harm to our vulnerable youth that are exposed to these volatile substances,” he said in a statement.

“Woolworths have taken a proactive approach to reduce the supply of products used in volatile substance misuse and the Queensland Police Service look forward to continuing this partnership into the future.”

Woolworths has introduced the measure in select stores in response to a growing substance abuse crisis. Picture: TikTok/randomfinds

TikTok users have been quick to commend the move, which currently also applies to every Woolies store in the Northern Territory, with some suggesting it should be a feature in all supermarkets.

“Good step to try and mitigate the chroming crisis. Kids always say it’s so accessible that’s why it’s the best choice,” one user wrote.

“Yep, it’s the same here in the NT! We just have to find a staff member to open glass and it takes ages,” another said.

“It’s only because those deodorants hold the chemical that makes young kids get high on it,” another pointed out.

However others expressed their sadness at the move, with some stating it was “insane” it had come in.

“So sad … needs to happen in my area. I took my daughter to the park and there was a boy chroming on the swing,” one wrote.

“Society has still not solved this problem? I remember this being a thing many years ago and forgot it was even a thing,” another commented.

Coles has also been introducing the glass cabinets in select stores to help tackle the issue. Picture: TikTok/randomfinds

In February, a photo showing aerosol products at the Coles Express in The Myer Centre in Brisbane behind a lockable glass cabinet was shared to Reddit where it garnered similar attention.

Coles said it was also working with police to “minimise harm caused by the misuse of aerosol products”.

“A number of our stores now have lockable aerosol cabinets installed, and customers seeking to purchase these products can simply ask a team member at the service desk for assistance,” the spokesperson told news.com.au.

“We’ve had positive feedback from our customers since we introduced the lockable aerosol cabinets. It takes the whole community to support this issue.”

Continued misuse of the health product can cause serious health problems such as seizures, heart palpations or in extreme cases, sudden death.