Drug use up since non-sniff fuel: APY leader
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Demand to tackle new drug problems on APY Lands (ABC News)
An APY Lands community leader says she has written an open letter to the Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin asking that a growing drug problem on the Lands be addressed.
Ernabella disability support worker Mikinti Minutjukur says marijuana use on the Lands has become a big problem since the introduction of Opal non-sniffable fuel.
Ms Minutjukur says Ms Macklin's trip to the Lands last week only scratched the surface of concerns there and her letter urges the Government to start listening to the real issues on the Lands.
"The drugs are coming in more and more to the community," she said.
"There were some people from outside selling somewhere else like Coober Pedy or Marla or Mintabie.
"People who are drug traders now, we know who they are and they bring drugs to the community."
Ms Minutjukur acknowledges valuable federal support for other projects, such as restoring an old church on the APY Lands.
"We see good things like the church and other things the Government are supporting and helping and make sure that the community are really happy with what they need," she said.
"I'm just writing the letter saying 'There's more problems in the community than people from the outside know but we know, the family and the community'."
