Inhalants: the law
It is not a criminal offence anywhere in Australia to use or to possess volatile substances used as inhalants. If a police officer believes someone is intoxicated, they are generally able to detain the person.
New laws about inhalants came into effect in Victoria in 2004. Some communities in Western Australia and South Australia have passed local by-laws to make petrol sniffing an offence.
While some inhalants are restricted, most inhalants are common household products, so it is not practical to make them illegal. It is also unlikely that this would help protect young people from harm. However, it is illegal for retailers to sell products to someone if they believe that they are to be used for inhaling.
For more information, please click on the Australian Drug Foundation's DrugInfo Clearinghouse web site link below.
Last Reviewed: 16 November 2006
