One of the organisations trying to solve the issue of chroming is Young People Ahead Youth and Community Services.

YPA, along with its community partners in Mount Isa, recently welcomed news of the State Government Health Minister, Steven Miles for the Chief Health Minister to convene a roundtable of industry leaders, community based services and clinicians to discuss the ongoing issue of VSM.

YPA General Manager, Alvin Hava, who has worked in the local social justice sector over 20 years, is quietly confident about an announcement of the potential return of the volatile substance misuse service (VSM) service funding.

"This funding was previously available for Mount Isa to tackle the issue directly, and its reinstatement would likely go a long way to stem other associated matters such as youth crime, domestic violence, self-harm, and suicide," Mr Hava said.

"Since the loss of the VSM service in Mount Isa in 2015, our community has witnessed our youth, as young as eight years of age engaging in chroming. The implications of these behaviors being an over-representation of youths who are engaged with the health and criminal justice systems, and transitioned into detention facilities."

Mr Hava said the substance misuse was leading to many problems for development, well-being and ability to thrive.

"VSM use can lead to heart failure, with recorded deaths of young people in Townsville," he said.

"This has led to YPA establishing a local volatile substance misuse working group, to strategically support the community."

YPA have been working together with other community-based agencies including the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATODS) to initiate responses to assist young people at risk of engaging in VSM through diversionary programs, offered during weekdays and over weekends.

Mr Hava said monthly visits to retailers in the community were occurring, with most of them complying with the community's wishes to secure their products appropriately as well as each business being provided with a 'Retailers Kit' to assist with staff development.

"YPA continue to do regular 'hot spot' checks in community to directly speak with youths engaging in VSM and to foster strong relationships with them and their families to refer them into positive programs and activities, as well as to dispose of paraphernalia from each site," Mr Hava said.

"It's not unusual for YPA workers to go out and speak with over a dozen youths engaging in abandoned premises and collect over 50 items in the area that include deodorant cans, fly spray, tins of paint, solvent canisters and other paraphernalia.

"Another concerning risk is the number of needles/syringes we have collected and disposed of."

In recent months, YPA partnered with the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) to deliver a series of training presentations around Harm Reduction amongst workers in the community.

Mr Alva said currently YPA and a number of Traditional Custodians to Country in North West and Gulf Queensland were finalising plans to implement a regional diversionary youth service, with a particular focus on after hours and weekend programs.

"This culturally appropriate initiative will look into incorporate development projects, present local economic development opportunities and build local capacity and resiliency to support communities' most vulnerable families and individuals," he said.

"I look forward to potential engagement in the upcoming roundtable forum in the very near future, so we can further advocate and brief senior leaders in the innovative responses our great city have put in place that could assist in the formulation of a state-wide strategy."

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