New Guidelines Improves the Management of Volatile Substance Use
Australia’s first Consensus-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Volatile Substance Use in Australiaand a quick-reference summary to support heath workers treating clients in this area have been developed.
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Previous MinistersJoint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
28 October 2011The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, and Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, today welcomed Australia’s first Consensus-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Volatile Substance Use in Australia, and a quick-reference summary, to support heath workers treating clients in this challenging area.
Volatile substance use (VSU) - inhaling solvents, gases and aerosols for intoxication - is a significant problem in some Australian communities.
Mr Butler said people who use volatile substances, such as petrol or glue, often have special needs not met by conventional drug and alcohol treatment strategies.
“Health professionals working in metropolitan, rural and remote communities now have a clinical practice guideline that provides a planned approach to identify, assess and treat people who use volatile substances,” Mr Butler said.
“This means that the best quality clinical information is now easily accessible to general practitioners, health workers, as well as other clinicians.”
Mr Snowdon said that, “research indicates volatile substance use is highest among young people from socio-economically disadvantaged and marginalised groups including some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
“The short and long term consequences of substance use can be devastating not only for the individual and their family, but also for their community.
“That is why culturally secure practices, including outstation rehabilitation, were considered in the development of these guidelines,” he said.
The National Health and Medical Research Council developed the guideline, assisted by a committee of medical and social experts, using the best available scientific evidence and consensus based recommendations.
The guideline and quick-reference summary are intended for use by health professionals including doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers, Ngangkari (traditional healers), alcohol and other drug workers and allied health professionals.
The new volatile substance use guideline will support the Australian Government’s commitment to tackling petrol sniffing in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Government is investing almost $108 million over five years to roll out low aromatic Opal fuel. A 2008 review found petrol sniffing in Central Australian and APY lands communities was cut by over 90% in the 12 months following the rollout of Opal fuel.
The Australian Government is also investing in volatile substance use treatment and youth diversion services in Central Australia.
Harm reduction programs are operating across remote areas of Australia, organisations such as the Central Australian Youth Link Up Service (CAYLUS) in Central Australia which has been provided with more than $3.5 million over three years for education, prevention, diversionary and treatment activities.
The guideline and quick-reference summary document can be found at the NHMRC website
For more information, please contact the Mr Butler’s office on (02) 6277 7280 or Mr Snowdon’s office on (02) 6277 7820
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