MEDIA ACCUSED OF INTERFERING IN CHROMING SOLUTION

The media has been accused of complicating and setting back steps to find a
constructive solution to the problem of inhaling volatile substances, also
known as chroming.

The accusations arose at public hearings held by the Joint Parliamentary
Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee as part of its inquiry into chroming.

The inquiry comes after it was revealed the Victorian Government knew a
Melbourne youth centre was allowing supervised chroming.

The relevant Minister, Christine Campbell, has since lost the Youth Affairs
portfolio.

A number of youth workers told the inquiry media coverage of the issue had
inadvertently advertised chroming and led to an increase in the practice.

Janet Jukes of the Victorian Youth Affairs Council says the media attention
is also preventing constructive policy debate.

"We're trying to deal with complex issues and yet we're trying to talk
about that in a 30 second grab," Ms Jukes says.

The hearings continue.