Wonder Fuel not enough to solve the sniffing problem
Multinational fuel company BP this week joined with indigenous groups to launch its new anti-sniffing petrol, Opel. It’s a high grade fuel lacking the aromatics that make petrol so desirable to sniffers, and will be rolled out to problem communities in SA, WA and the NT. These communities have previously had another form of replacement fuel. Scott Wilson from the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol program says to be really effective the fuel needs to be available outside communities, in roadhouses and other places where sniffers can still go to get the petrol they crave. He also believes fuel replacement programs can’t make up for the lack of things for kids to do on remote communities and such programs need to be backed up by a genuine investment in activities for young indigenous people.