VSA Headlines - December 2019

UK

Boy, 15, died 'after inhaling aerosol fumes and taking drug cocktail with his mum: [She] allegedly gave him and his friends morphine and other medications as they drank alcohol and sniffed aerosols in the kitchen, a jury was told.

Dangerous substances too easy to get hold of, says coroner: At an inquest into the death of [a man] who died using nitrous oxide, Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said many dangerous substances are available online.

Metabolic encephalopathy caused by nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) induced hyperammonaemia: A 26-year-old man presented at the emergency department with confusion and decreased consciousness after several days of vomiting. In the preceding 6 months, he had used a 2-litre tank of nitrous oxide (N2O) weekly.

Drunk road safety driver jailed over police crash in Maidenhead: [He] had been driving a group of people back to a party after buying alcohol and balloons for nitrous oxide.

People who stay vegan after ‘Veganuary’ should take care not to become deficient in Vitamin B12: Prof Sanders also said that consumption of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, among young people can cause vitamin B12 deficiency and “tip the balance to them getting serious neuropathy”.

PCC Seeks Crackdown on Widespread Sales of ‘Laughing Gas’ in Surrey: David Munro, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has asked the Home Office to consider urgent action to tackle the increased recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”.

'It left me disgusted and depressed' - Huge haul of 148 hippy crack canisters found by worried mum in North Staffordshire park.

Warning after deadly gas canisters are found dumped in Wigan: A councillor has called for more to be done to prevent young people abusing potentially lethal “laughing gas” after piles of empty canisters were found in broad daylight.

Piles of 'laughing gas' nitrous oxide canisters found in Portsmouth car park: Environmental campaign group The Final Straw Solent, which is run in association with The News, found scores of gas canisters at Farlington Marshes.

'Laughing gas' canisters found in a Cornish field: Police have issued a warning as laughing gas canisters are found littering a Cornish field.

Police find used bag of 'hippy crack' canisters in children's play area on Aylesbury estate: The police made the unnerving discovery yesterday while officers were on foot patrol in the area.

Council named as finalist in prestigious awards: Environmental enforcement officers have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring Thurrock’s streets are cleaner and safer through extensive collaborative work with Essex Police in operations to tackle anti-social behaviour including nuisance motorbike riders, graffiti and nitrous oxide canisters.

Nic's Schersniffer: X Factor’s Nicole Scherzinger ‘sniffed poppers’ during wild night out at gay bar with beau Thom Evans.

Driver 'blows up' car with 'excessive' use of air freshener: A driver caused an explosion in his car when he lit a cigarette after spraying air freshener.

BELGIUM

Brussels Sees Surge of ‘Glue-Addicted’ North African Children: The Belgian capital of Brussels has seen the arrival of dozens of migrant street children in recent months, many addicted to glue-sniffing and alcohol.

DENMARK

Why Denmark wants to ban under-18s from buying laughing gas: Young people under the age of 18 should not be able to buy nitrous oxide cartridges, also known as laughing gas, according to the government.

Accurate numbers on prevalence of nitrous oxide revealed: A new study published by Sundhedsstyrelsen on December 16 reveals that 17 percent of young men at business schools have tried nitrous oxide cartridges – the so-called laughing gas.

NETHERLANDS

Netherlands set to ban recreational use of laughing gas: Nitrous oxide will become a controlled substance under the Opium Act in the Netherlands to curb the growing use of the chemical compound more commonly known as laughing gas. The substance will be added to the "List II" classification under the law, alongside drugs like hashish, diazepam, lorazepam and butabarbital, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport said in a statement.

Dutch government moves to ban laughing gas: The Dutch government on Monday announced plans to include nitrous oxide – more commonly known as laughing gas – on a “black list” of drugs, in response to the rapid increase in gas use among the youth of the nation.

POLAND

Poolse jongen (11) dood na inademen deodorant: Een 11-jarige jongen in Polen is zaterdag overleden nadat hij deodorant had ingeademd, maakte de politie maandag bekend. Het kind inhaleerde de deo samen met een 13-jarig meisje. Het tweetal wilde zichzelf „verdoven.” (An 11-year-old boy in Poland died after he inhaled deodorant. The child inhaled the deodorant together with a 13-year-old girl.)

USA

“Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2019: Overview, Key Findings on Adolescent Drug Use” provides details on inhalant use among young people. The 2019 figures are that 4.7% of 8th grade, 2.8% of 10th grade and 1.9% of 12th grade students admit to having used inhalants in the past year, a small increase on 2018 figures. Data tables can be found here.

Others Aren't Charged in Teen's State College Inhalant Death (PA): Authorities say criminal charges won't be filed against people who were present when an Erie teenager died of chemical asphyxia in October from inhaling nitrous oxide.

Wis. man guilty of killing 3 girl scouts and mom in hit-and-run as they picked up trash along road (WI): [He] was driving while huffing air duster when he hit the girls.

California man who huffed before crash that killed 3 Twin Cities men appeals 75-year prison sentence (CA): A man who pleaded guilty to a 2017 car crash that left three people dead is now appealing to change his plea because he did not understand the consequences in accepting the plea deal.

Lehigh Township man who threatened to kill wife faces charges after overnight standoff, police say (PA): [He] reportedly “had been huffing and drinking alcohol all day".

Driver tells police he had been huffing before crashing into Rexburg town home (ID): A driver told police he passed out while under the influence before slamming a vehicle into a Rexburg townhouse.

Man wrecks car after huffing chemical air (TX): Wichita Falls Police officers arrested a man after he allegedly crashed his car while huffing cans of compressed air.

Duluth woman paralyzed by driver impaired from huffing sues aerosol cleaner manufacturer 3M (MN): A Duluth woman is trying to stop others from being injured or killed from huffing after she was left paralyzed from a crash in which the impaired driver had inhaled an aerosol keyboard cleaner.

Deputies arrest 3 brothers and a 4th suspect and seize 35 nitrous oxide tanks and 4 guns in Norwalk (CA): ... They had received complaints that nitrous oxide was being sold at the location at all hours of the night.

Police find illegal inhalants in Horse Cave Adult Bookstore (KY): Officers say the toxic vapors emitted from these substances cause various side effects, including death. They say the chemicals being sold included isobutyl nitrite.

A closer look at a dangerous fad growing in our area -- nitrous oxide (PA): Channel 11 is taking a closer look at a dangerous fad -- nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

CANADA

B.C. doctor links non-medical use of nitrous oxide to serious illness, addiction: A B.C. doctor is warning against intentionally inhaling nitrous oxide, saying it causes psychosis and other neurological effects.

INDIA

30 lakh children across India are addicted to inhalants: A 13-year-old boy rescued from the streets of Bengalaru six month ago craved cheaply available cycle glue or whitener.

PRC

Arrest for laughing gas 'addict': A junior college student who had been taking laughing gas for four years and sold the gas to cover her expenses has been arrested, prosecutors said on Thursday.

AUSTRALIA

Project CASM recognised for prevention and early intervention of substance abuse in Brisbane: QPS Detective Sergeant Peter Lunney said Project CASM seeks to protect and divert young people from volatile substance misuse (VSM) in Brisbane City with the overarching goal of reducing the prevalence of associated offending.

'Nangs' sale restricted in SA under new state government legislation: The sale of nitrous oxide canisters, known as 'nangs', will be restricted from the new year under a new South Australian government crackdown.