Supermarket Contributing to Inhalant Abuse Problem

Courtesy of abc.net
Alice Springs, Australia

Youth workers in Alice Springs say a local supermarket giant's store layout is contributing to the inhalant abuse problem in the area.

The workers say that the location of the products is conducive to theft, because they are shelved in the back of the store.

They admit that there is little that can be done on the local level because it is a franchise and the local store owners, "have no control over how they lay the shop out."

The youth workers have been unable to get the attention of the company's management to tell them, "they are unconsciously contributing to the problem."

Glue Abuse in Australia

From the Fraser Coast Chronicle in Australia:

A 23 year-old has pleaded guilty to stealing glue from a local supermarket. On March 1 at 4:20 pm he stole a tube of glue and plastic bags from another area of the store. Two hours later he stole two more tubes of glue and additional plastic bags. He was caught on camera in both cases.

Defence barristers note that he has been addicted to inhalants since he was 8 years-old which has resulted in brain damage. Prosecutors note he has a “substantial criminal history and was on parole at the time he committed the stealing offences.” The judge fined the man $800.