VSA Headlines - April 2020

UK

Care assistant found dead ... had been inhaling 'laughing gas', inquest finds: An inquest into a care assistant's death found she had been inhaling what's commonly known as laughing gas at the time of her death.

Addicts turn to glue as access to street drugs dries up during lockdown: Pharmacy robberies expected to increase if emergency response is not quickly implemented.

Butane gas inhaling ISIS bomb hoaxer from Bootle threatens to attack judge: 'If the judge doesn't send me to prison I'm going to throw something at him'.

Ed Sheeran lookalike ex-soldier once sniffed almost 100 aerosol cans: [He] broke his leg on an army training exercise and ended up sleeping in woods after sniffing 98 aerosol cans but he now works in a cafe and as an Ed Sheeran tribute act.

Norfolk gang admits raiding hospitals the day before lockdown: Four men have admitted breaking into hospitals during the coronavirus crisis to steal gas canisters - actions which could have led to operations being cancelled.

Sam Smith says they ‘love poppers’ and admits doing the legal high with Nicole Scherzinger on rowdy night out. Sam, 27, made the admission during a chat with Andy Cohen on his Sirius XM talk show Radio Andy earlier this week.

Anger as ‘laughing gas’ drug canisters found on Leith Links: Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is illegal if used recreationally.

Broxbourne residents 'disgusted' after laughing gas canisters and balloons left car park during Covid-19 lockdown: The Covid-19 lockdown means no one should be meeting others outside of their household.

Worries over the continued use of 'laughing gas' as empty canisters are found in the Spalding area: It has been feared that people are continuing to use NOS gas, also known as 'laughing gas', despite warnings it could seriously damage their health.

“Bobby’s collapse has huge repercussions for Dotty” warns EastEnders Milly Zero: Bobby manages to blag himself into the club and tries to impress Dotty by asking to buy some of the legal high laughing gas she’s surreptitiously peddling to revellers.

USA

Plainfield sex offender inhaled aerosal spray, smashed into car at Walmart (IL): A convicted sex offender who was intoxicated from inhaling aerosol spray smashed his van into an unoccupied sedan in the parking lot of the Walmart on Route 59, according to police and court records.

Driver huffed canned air, passed out and crashed into south Sacramento yard, CHP says (CA): Huffing a canned inhalant while driving is a crime, the California Highway Patrol reminded Sacramento drivers this week.

Man intoxicated from inhaling duster charged with assaulting police, fleeing (AR): A Royal man reportedly impaired after inhaling air duster was arrested Sunday night on felony fleeing and assault charges after allegedly nearly running over a Hot Springs police officer.

Five juveniles in a Honda at 3:00 am (CA):  ... The 14 year-old female juvenile and the 14 year-old male in the back seat were arrested for possession of nitrous oxide.The 15 year-old male juvenile also in the back seat was arrested for possession of nitrous oxide.

New Martinsville Police looking for break-in suspects (WV): ... Another place that was hit was Chapman Dental Group, where some tanks of nitrous oxide were stolen.

Cape Coral woman arrested multiple times for huffing cleaning chemicals (FL): She’s been booked in the Lee County Jail more than 20 times.

Under the palmetto (FL): A woman was lying underneath a palmetto plant and huffing aerosol cans used to dust computers when she was approached by police.

CANADA

Police seek public’s help after weekend robbery: Police say they were dispatched after a report of a man was threatening staff at the business with a knife and a bottle. He left the business with cash and a bottle of butane and nobody was hurt.

MALAYSIA

Three glue-sniffing teenagers detained for violating MCO: Three teenagers, including a girl, were detained by police for sniffing glue at the Kota Kinabalu Central Market yesterday night.

INDIA

Centre may issue advisory for addicts going through withdrawal during lockdown: ... According to the ‘Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India’ report by the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, which was submitted to the Ministry in 2019, “problem use” and “dependent use” was seen in 8.6 crore alcohol users, 1.05 crore of opiod users, 97 lakh of cannabis users and 30.5 lakh inhalant users.