MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 11th September 2002

Guidelines for responsible media reporting of ‘Chroming’ needed

Victoria's leading policy advocate and peak body for youth affairs has welcomed the recommendation for a voluntary protocol to be developed on the media reporting of volatile substance use, as part of the final report of the Victorian State Parliament Inquiry into the Inhalation of Volatile Substances. These guidelines would be developed along the same model as the media guidelines for the reporting of suicide.

Janet Jukes, executive officer of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) said, “There is overwhelming agreement among youth workers that media reports can have an ‘advertising’ effect alerting young people to the practice of substance inhalation.”

“Voluntary guidelines would not stifle community debate, instead they would encourage the media to recognise and share its responsibility to care for these young people” Ms Jukes said.

Ms Jukes also stressed the importance of not criminalising volatile substance use, “While we recognise the difficult position the Police are often placed in when they are call to attend to young people who may be influenced by substances, more police involvement is not the answer” Ms Jukes said.

“What we need are more resources for community and welfare agencies, outreach youth workers, and drug and alcohol specialists so that we can ensure that young people with complex needs receive the assistance that they require. The last thing that we need to do is make these young people feel like criminals” Ms Jukes added.

“Volatile substance inhalation is a very complex area and this report adds positively to our understanding of the issues. We call on everyone to consider carefully the recommendations of this report as we work together to seek the best way forward.”

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, is the peak body and leading policy advocate for youth issues in Victoria. We have a membership of around 500 organisations and individuals.

Further media comment
Janet Jukes, Executive Officer 0411 484 428