Yellowknifers encouraged to lock up propane, again, as 'huffing' suspected cause of explosion

The head of a youth organization in Yellowknife is repeating a plea she made two years ago — for people to lock up their propane as her organization witnessed a concerning trend of youth huffing the gas.

On Wednesday, the Yellowknife RCMP said they believed huffing to be the cause of an explosion that rocked the city earlier this week. There is no indication that was a youth, but it's the kind of scenario Tammy Roberts — the executive director of Home Base Yellowknife — has been worried about.

Roberts said she knows youth have been struggling with this substance for a long time. 

"Our Home Base is really hurting right now because this is very close to home," she said.

When she first issued the appeal to lock up propane two years ago, she said it did have an impact — but drugs of choice also change over time. 

"We did see little bits of change, but with any type of use of solvents or alcohol or any drug, you see ebbs and flows and we definitely saw that too," she said. 

"Youth are like sponges and they follow what they see." 

The Yellowknife RCMP declined an interview request on the subject, but sent an emailed statement about the issue. 

"While inhalant or solvent use is not as common as other types of substance use, it is not new to the North and police do receive calls relating to persons engaged in these activities occasionally," wrote Const. Josh Seaward, a spokesperson for the N.W.T. RCMP. 

"Users have been known to steal gasoline cans or propane tanks as they are widely available and often not secured."

Seaward also encouraged residents to lock up any propane or other gases they have on their property. 

Roberts said propane is particularly attractive to those struggling with addiction because it can be stolen easily.  

"There are things that people are addicted to that are very expensive and they don't have the funds to get those — [so] they get whatever they can and propane just seems to be easily accessible," she said. 

Roberts also pleaded with people to not make light of the situation on social media, as those who are huffing propane may suffer from addiction and may be dealing with their own trauma.