We urgently need to give these people adequate help before they turn to life-threatening substances

Volatile Substance Abuse is widespread in the NT and each day it becomes increasingly critical more work is done to prevent Territorians from moving on to life-threatening narcotics.

VOLATILE Substance Abuse (VSA) is widespread in the NT and each day it becomes increasingly critical that more work is done to prevent Territorians, and in particular youths, from moving on to life-threatening narcotics.

This year VSA has repeatedly appeared in the headlines, from empty aerosol cans littering Karama’s Manunda Park to almond and peppermint essences being put behind the service desk at major grocery stores.

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Coles has placed all aerosol deodorants in locked cabinets in all of its NT stores.

It is encouraging that Coles and Woolworths are stepping up and doing their part to keep the community safe but there comes a point where it won’t be feasible to have half a store’s products behind the service desk. There needs to be a long-term solution and while restricting access to these products is an effective method to do so, it needs to be in partnership with strategies that address the root of the problem.

It is not a stretch to say people, especially youths, are turning to these products because there are larger issues in their life.

Whether it be family, financial, work or home-related, there needs to be adequate support in place for Territorians. There are more effective and constructive ways of dealing with these issues instead of turning to VSA and perhaps these people do not have access to these support networks.

We urgently need to give these people adequate help before they turn to life-threatening substances.