Law and penalities

As most inhalants in New Zealand are common household products, it is not practical to make them illegal.

Although it is not illegal to possess inhalants, police can hold people under the influence of inhalants for detoxification under the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966.

Furthermore the Child Youth and Family Act 1989 states that when a child or young person is in a situation where their physical or mental healthy is likely to be impaired, police can deliver the child to the custody of their parents or guardian, with child consent.

Some councils have enacted by-laws restricting the use of ‘mind altering’ substances in public places. This gives police the power to seize such products and move users away from public places.

The Summary of Offences Act 1981 was recently amended to make it an offence for retailers to sell spray cans to under 18-year-olds and requiring that spray cans are only accessible by retail staff.

While this measure was originally intended to reduce the incidence of graffiti, it gives retailers the right to refuse sale of products to people they suspect will abuse them.