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Database ID	440
Title	The neurological, cognitive and social consequences of petrol sniffing and the abuse of cannabis, kava and alcohol among Indigenous Australians.
Description	This research involves a series of parallel studies to assess brain function in Aboriginal groups, mainly in Arnhem Land and the Northern Territory. Assessments of cognitive and neurological function are compared between users and non-users of different substances including petrol, alcohol, kava and cannabis to investigate the extent of brain dysfunction attributed to using these substances and the factors that influence the severity of related impairment. These performance measures are considered together with relevant physiological parameters such as blood and urine indicators, and social factors. The progression of recovery is investigated together with the factors that influence the ability of the brain to recover from the effects of substance abuse. This research also involves the development and validation of culturally appropriate tools and techniques for the measurement of brain function in Aboriginal Australians.
Status	Complete
Researchers	Dr. Sheree Cairney Professor Paul Maruff Professor Bart Currie Dr. Alan Clough
Keywords	petrol sniffing, inhalants, cannabis, kava, alcohol use, drug use, Aborigines; Indigenous Peoples; social aspects; cognitive aspects; brain;
Institution	Menzies School of Health Research
Collaborating institutions	CogState Ltd Mental Health Research Institute
Start Date	01-2001
End Date	12-2009
Publications	Cairney S, Maruff P, Burns CB, Currie J, Currie BJ. Neurological and Cognitive Recovery Following Abstinence from Petrol Sniffing. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Feb 16; [Epub ahead of print] Clough AR, D'Abbs P, Cairney S, Gray D, Maruff P, Parker R, O'Reilly B. Emerging patterns of cannabis and other substance use in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory: a study of two communities. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2004 Dec;23(4):381-90. Cairney S, Maruff P, Burns CB, Currie J, Currie BJ. Neurological and cognitive impairment associated with leaded gasoline encephalopathy. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2004 Feb 7;73(2):183-8. Cairney S, Maruff P, Clough AR, Collie A, Currie J, Currie BJ. Saccade and cognitive impairment associated with kava intoxication. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2003 Oct;18(7):525-33. Clough AR, Jacups SP, Wang Z, Burns CB, Bailie RS, Cairney SJ, Collie A, Guyula T, McDonald SP, Currie BJ. Health effects of kava use in an eastern Arnhem Land Aboriginal community. Intern Med J. 2003 Aug;33(8):336-40. Cairney S, Clough AR, Maruff P, Collie A, Currie BJ, Currie J. Saccade and cognitive function in chronic kava users. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Feb;28(2):389-96. Clough AR, Cairney SJ, Maruff P, Parker RM. Rising cannabis use in indigenous communities. Med J Aust. 2002 Oct 7;177(7):395-6. Cairney S, Maruff P, Clough AR. The neurobehavioural effects of kava. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2002 Oct;36(5):657-62. Cairney S, Maruff P, Burns C, Currie B. The neurobehavioural consequences of petrol (gasoline) sniffing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2002 Jan;26(1):81-9. Review. Burns C, Currie B, Currie J, Maruff P. Petrol sniffing down the track. Med J Aust. 1994 Jun 6;160(11):729-30. Cairney S, Maruff P, Burns CB, Currie J, Currie BJ. Saccade dysfunction associated with chronic petrol sniffing and lead encephalopathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Mar;75(3):472-6. Maruff P, Burns CB, Tyler P, Currie BJ, Currie J. Neurological and cognitive abnormalities associated with chronic petrol sniffing. Brain. 1998 Oct;121 ( Pt 10):1903-17.
Contact	Name  Dr. Sheree Cairney Phone  08 8922 8412 Fax  08 8927 5187
Indexed	Illicit drugs -> Cannabis (124) Illicit drugs -> Solvent abuse and inhalants (19) Illicit drugs -> Other drugs ... -> Kava (2) Alcohol -> Alcohol nervous system effects (26) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Nervous system -> Alcohol nervous system effects (25) Demographic and social issues -> Indigenous population -> Aborigines (130) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Nervous system -> Brain (30) Psychological aspects -> Cognition (88) Geographic regions -> Australia -> Northern Territory (28) Geographic regions -> Pacific area -> New Zealand (45)

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