Prevalence

Information on the prevalence of volatile substance use (VSU) is not routinely collected, so it can be difficult to know how common VSU is in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. VSU is not a criminal offence and therefore not reported by the police, and data collection about VSU does not always separate information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people [30967].

Studies show that the prevalence of VSU for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that have comparable data has been declining in recent years [31839][38141]. This decline has mostly been associated with the introduction of low aromatic fuel (LAF). However there are some regions where communities continue to experience opportunistic or casual use of volatile substances such as sniffing petrol or deodorants [38141].

For a summary of statistical information on prevalence of volatile substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, see also our latest Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.