VSA Headlines - March 2020

UK

Man addicted to inhaling gas in court after returning to 'safe place': A man who has been banned from one of [the town's] busiest streets for inhaling butane gas in public breached an order banning him from the area which he regards as his 'safe place'.

Action on Addiction ride postponed due to coronavirus: Mr Bramble, whose son Craig died from solvent abuse in 2001, said: “Sadly it is (with) big regrets to announce the postponement of Action on Addiction 6 on April 19, 2020."

Hospital theft: Four men appear in court charged with stealing nitrous oxide canisters used for pain relief: Four men aged between 22 and 41 have appeared in court charged with stealing dozens of pain relief gas canisters from hospitals in Durham.

Thieves steal oxygen from Manchester hospital: They cut a lock on a metal unit before stealing eight oxygen and nitrous oxide canisters.

Crawley drugs raid: Nitrous oxide canisters and cash seized.

Parents urged to keep an eye on youngsters after rave on local park: Police were called in to break up the gathering which left the area littered with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) capsules, broken glass and balloons.

Country laybys being used by drug abusers: [Ridgeway Ward Councillor] Gary Sumner said: “I walk my dog up on the hills behind Wanborough to towards the Ridgeway, and I’m always seeing the bags and wraps that drugs are sold in, there are needles sometimes, and quite often nitrous oxide cannisters."

Anger after 'toerags' steal hospital equipment amid coronavirus crisis: In the rear of the van were a large number of nitrous canisters which had been stolen from hospitals north of the county (Lincolnshire) overnight.

Drugs on tap: Drug dealers are using chip and pin to take payments for cocaine and 'hippy crack'.

Heroin needles, homeless and hippy crack canisters: The state of Bath's car parks: Needles, cannabis packets and gas cannisters - containing what is commonly known as hippy crack - are common sights in the city centre, according to the man responsible for trying to keep them clean and safe.

'Laughing gas' cannisters found in Ardoyne spark concern: SDLP councillor Paul McCusker says users are taking "serious risks" with their lives.

Warning against "laughing gas" trend: The dangers of nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas”, have been highlighted after gas canisters were found in Seascale (Cumbria).

'I can't take much more,' says Gwersyllt resident living in fear because of drug use in the streets: One image which was recently taken by the resident, came after one 'disgusting' incident saw them discovering a large quantity of used nitrous oxide cannisters ‘dumped’ in their outside bin.

IRELAND

Coronavirus impacting on vulnerable children in care, court hears: Mr Leahy also outlined the situation of a teenage boy admitted to special care some months ago against a background of “massive and life threatening solvent abuse”.

Getting help at Cork's Arbour House is proving vital for recovering addicts: A Cork man recalled how he would steal petrol during school lunch breaks to feed a drug habit that almost ruined his adult life.

UKRAINE

Ukrainian chess grand master and girlfriend found dead in Russia after ‘inhaling laughing gas’: Deaths come days after Bogdanovich faced criticism for playing in Russian team against Ukraine.

USA

Man sentenced to 54 years for crash that killed 3 Girl Scouts and a mother: The authorities said Colten Treu was high on an inhalant when he drove into a troop of Girl Scouts and parents who were cleaning the side of a road in Wisconsin.

Repeat impaired driver injured in crash near Bellefontaine (OH): Once awake, authorities asked [him] if he had been huffing and he replied yes.

Florida woman high on laughing gas arrested for smuggling bath salts into jail (FL): [She] was arrested after holding up traffic on SR80 while she was high on nitrous oxide and then tried to smuggle bath salt "pills" into jail.

Accused ‘huffer’ crashed car into Kilkenny Circle home Tuesday (WY): The man’s SUV allegedly sideswiped a green garbage bin before crashing head-on into the side of a Kilkenny Circle home.

Police say alcohol, nitrous oxide involved in traffic crash in Monterey Park (CA): Two women suffered moderate injuries when their car flipped over several times during a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Monterey Park.

Carson City arrests (NV): Suspect denies threats, admits huffing fumes inside ride share vehicle.

Ocala man caught ‘huffing’ outside Regal Hollywood 16 theaters (FL): An Ocala man with two prior drug arrests was charged with possession of harmful chemicals after being caught “huffing” in the parking lot of the Regal Hollywood 16 theater complex.

AUSTRALIA

Meet the ‘nang’ dealer who delivers party gas to revellers and says he makes $35k in a weekend (VIC): Melbourne ‘dealer’ Nick claims to be Australia’s ‘King of Nangs’ and owns numerous online companies that sell nitrous oxide canisters, which are normally used in the baking industry to whip cream.

Carer ignores chroming school-boy at Mt Louisa park for three hours before calling an paramedics (QLD): A father watched in horror as a child in school uniform chromed for three hours, while his adult carer sat unfazed and glued to her phone.

Parents are unaware their kids are exposing themselves to dangerous substances in the Mid North: A petition has been raised to mandate the labeling of all gas bottles containing LPG with a warning which reads "inhalation may cause death".