NCJ Number
215491
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 189-193
Date Published
May 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the key elements and success of the Mt. Theo Program in Australia, an intervention and prevention petrol sniffing program.
Abstract
The Mt. Theo Program has achieved unique success in stopping petrol sniffing in the remote community of Yuendemu in Australia. The key elements that have contributed to the success of the Mt. Theo Program include: (1) a multifaceted approach; (2) strong community support; (3) cross-cultural relationships; and (4) an ability to operate beyond crisis intervention. Petrol sniffing involves the deliberate inhalation of petrol fumes to achieve an alteration mood and mental state. It is a major form of substance abuse or misuse in aboriginal communities across Australia. Petrol sniffing has detrimental effects on the health and wellbeing of individual sniffers, as well as their families, communities, and the greater society. This paper provides an insider’s account of the Mt. Theo Program; a program which has successfully reduced the number of petrol sniffers from 70 to 0 at Yuendemu and has achieved a long-term absence of petrol sniffing within the community and surrounding region. The Program began in 1994 as a community initiative to address the crisis of petrol sniffing. At that time, it was estimated that there were more than 70 young people sniffing petrol in Yuendemu every week. Twelve years after the beginning of the Program, petrol sniffing is virtually nonexistent in Yuendemu community. References