IT’S chewing through the brains and organs of our young people at an alarming rate and even putting our emergency workers at risk on the job in Mount Isa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sniffing and other volatile substance abuse has a big impact on the health of the individual user and the community in Mount Isa.
Queensland Ambulance Service clinical support officer Robert Alexander told visitors at last Friday’s Mount Isa Health Expo that he treated children as young as 12 in Mount Isa who were under the influence of volatile substances.
He described drug affected people as delusional, angry and at risk of death if chased, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“Police, paramedics, nurses and doctors do get abused, threatened and at times assaulted by those affected by substance abuse,” Mr Alexander told the Mount Isa Health Expo crowd.
“Just three days ago a paramedic in Mount Isa was attacked while carrying out her duties by the very person she was attempting to treat.”
Mr Alexander said recent reports showed that 0.6 per cent of Australia’s population, or roughly 13,300 people, used inhalants to get a high and at least a third of these people used them more than once a month.
He said the majority of young people abusing these substances in Mount Isa didn’t understand the impact it was having on their bodies.
“I think people don’t see that it’s harmful, they see it as an immediate escape from reality or maybe it gives them a false sense of security,” he said.
“It depends on why they’re using it, whether it’s a result of domestic abuse or whether it’s because they’re unemployed or had a previous drug habit.
“In order to change people’s behaviours there needs to be heightened awareness and education across both parents and children.”
Mount Isa Child Protection and Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Lisa Clever said despite the major physical deterioration that happens every time a child or adult huffs petrol or deodorant, other victims have emerged as the product of choice changes.
“Local businesses owners have experienced $300 to $500 in product losses per week and are often subject to violent outbursts from people trying to access those products as well,” she said.
“There’s a greater cost to the community through unexpected wilful damage.”
