In The hidden burden of laughing gas, published in BMJ Opinion on 16th June, Amira Guirguis, Luigi Martini and Mair Davies argue that tighter regulations around the sale of N2O online need to be imposed by the government and project that the number of patients presenting to healthcare services with neurological damage due to N2O consumption will rise. Read more here.
In other headlines:-
South Yorkshire solvent-abuser gets "one more chance" or she faces jail: A solvent-abuser who breached a Criminal Behaviour Order for the fourth time after she was caught with aerosol canisters in public has been given “one more chance” to avoid prison.
Man caught with gas canister at Aberdeen shopping centre: A man was caught breaching an anti-social behaviour order after being found with a gas canister at an Aberdeen shopping centre.
Premier Inn and police want 3m fence to stop butane-addicted beggar: Police are backing a bid by a hotel for a security fence to stop anti-social behaviour in one of Norwich city centre’s streets - particularly to deter a beggar described by officers as “a daily drain on resources”.
Laughing gas arrests after 1,800 canisters found in car: Police stopped a vehicle on Furnace Way, Swansea, arresting a 16-year-old youth, and two other men, aged 21 and 22, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a psychoactive substance.
Police seize more than 20,000 nitrous oxide capsules in huge 750-officer road crime operation: Metropolitan Police also made 33 arrests for a variety of offences, including possession of offensive weapons, possession of Class A drugs, and drink and drug driving.
Three men in Worksop arrested on suspicion of intent to supply 'laughing gas': It’s after dozens of Nitrous Oxide canisters were found in Manton.
17-year-old Swindon boy investigated by police over supply of nitrous oxide: A 17-year-old boy is the subject of a police investigation into the distribution of nitrous oxide after being found in possession of a large number of canisters.
Groups seen fighting and inhaling laughing gas at Endcliffe Park as police issue appeal: A police appeal has been made for mobile phone footage of a fight in a Sheffield park.
Cash, cannabis and 6,000 laughing gas canisters found in Brierley Hill: Around 6,000 nitrous oxide canisters were found along with cash and cannabis by police in the Black Country.
BALLOONACY: Hamilton ace Shaun Want admits inhaling ‘hippy crack’ after club insisted he was blowing up kid’s birthday balloons.
Drug researchers warn of the dangers of 'laughing gas' following illegal raves: ITV video report by Anna Youssef.
Nitrous Oxide: Investigation: By Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle for the Bauer Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio network.
Nitrous oxide use among young people is increasing in lockdown because it’s cheap and accessible: A common perception is that laughing gas is harmless, but medical experts warn of its dangers and call for better regulation.
'Neglect' claims over failure to tackle laughing gas abuse by teens: Claim comes as it is revealed no test purchases of the age-restricted products had been carried out by trading standards.
Call to stop 'Hippy Crack' being sold to kids in similar crackdown to 1980s glue-sniffers: Councillors say more needs to be done to stop canisters being sold by some retailers.
Tamworth councillor starts petition over the growing misuse of 'laughing gas': Cllr Pritchard hopes his petition will gain 10,000 signatures and thus trigger a formal government response.
Government responds to Philip Davies over Nitrous Oxide fears: A Bradford MP has called on the Government to put a "greater focus" on the use of nitrous oxide (N20) across the UK after community centres shared concerns about its accessibility.
Social worker expresses concern over soaring use of 'laughing gas' by young people: An increasing number of small canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or hippy crack, are being found in Wigan, community leaders have said.
Experts call for action as telltale silver canisters from laughing gas use litter our parks in lockdown: Ministers have been told to clamp down on the dangerous 'hippy crack' craze which is booming during the lockdown. (News stories centring on local concerns about nitrous oxide canisters discarded as litter came from Birmingham, Brighton, Broadstairs, Bromsgrove, Cardiff, Coventry, Devon, Epsom, Essex, Fife, Filey (N Yorks) Leicestershire, Lichfield, Liverpool, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Newark, Peterlee, Portsmouth, Richmond (Yorks), Saddleworth, Sheffield, Somerset, St Helens, South Tyneside, Surrey, Warrington, Wigan, Whitstable, Wrexham, York.)
Off their heads: the shocking return of the rave: ... Worse still were the thousands of discharged nitrous oxide gas canisters, which are made of metal and can be fatal to birds and other wildlife. “It was a sea of silver,” Lord says. “I couldn’t even guess how many of them I picked up. Thousands and thousands.”
Police break up lockdown party after 30 revellers 'set up tented village in woods': The partygoers had lit a fire and reported finding bottles of alcohol and nitrous oxide cannisters littered at the scene.
No laughing matter: Deadly hippy crack craze sweeping post-lockdown Britain as parks and beaches left looking like ‘giant dustbins’.
The deadly hippy crack craze: Harry Wallop on the oh-so-trendy – but sometimes fatal – drug of choice for the post-lockdown revellers who are turning Britain into a giant dustbin.
Opinion: Nitrous oxide is no laughing matter: By Chief Inspector Neil Mitchell.
Calls to bring 'laughing gas' ban into town centre: Calls have been made to ban the use of ‘laughing gas’ in Doncaster town centre in line with strict anti-social behaviour measures.
Bradford community centre fears Nitrous Oxide drug "trend": Criminal justice workers have urged the Government to re-categorise a legal high after noticing more young people being "exploited" and influenced into taking Nitrous Oxide (N2O) across the district.
No laughing matter...nitrous oxide users told they face criminal record: Users of nitrious oxide are being told they could end up with criminal record as police continue to warn of its dangers.
Reports of youths taking drugs at Horrocks Wood car park: ... "There were small compressed gas canisters all over the car park, they had been thrown on the floor."
Laughing gas canisters in Witham spark concerns about use: Council bosses are looking to crackdown on a “dangerous” drug following an apparent surge in use.
'Extremely dangerous' laughing gas canisters discarded around NI - 'please don’t inhale nitrous oxide – it could kill you': A warning has been issued to the public to be aware that a number of nitrous oxide or laughing gas canisters being discarded in various places in NI.
Parents warned of potentially deadly 'hippy crack' drugs craze in Edinburgh and Lothian parks: Lothian MSP and Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs [said] ... “I will be raising this matter with the Scottish Government and asking what efforts it is making to educate young people in Lothian about the risks of using it and how it can do more to tackle those supplying it to youngsters.”
Police issue warning about dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide: The warning comes after officers have reported seeing an increase in the number of empty canisters they are finding while patrolling North Yorkshire, especially in areas where young people are known to meet and congregate.
Police urge people to ‘say no to N2O’ following reports of drug use in Hemel Hempstead: Police are warning the public about the dangers of nitrous oxide following an increase in reports of people using the drug in Hemel Hempstead.
York police issue warning to parents after youths were seen inhaling nitrous oxide: Police have issued a warning to parents after finding evidence that children were taking nitrous oxide on a York field.
Police to patrol Camberley park after reports of nitrous oxide use: Police are to carryout patrols of the area around Watchetts Recreation Ground in Camberley after reports of nitrous oxide use.
Police increase patrols around 'problem areas' of Bath after night rave: Officers received reports of anti-social behaviour, drinking, and drug use in local parks
Nitrous oxide cannisters found at Royal Victoria Country Park: Police have issued a warning about the potentially fatal consequences of inhaling laughing gas after searching teenagers and finding nitrous oxide cannisters.
Police warning over worrying laughing gas trend hitting West Yorkshire's streets: Nitrous Oxide also known as Nox or Laughing Gas is a psychoactive drug.
The force has spoken to several youths who were identified.
Police warn of lethal dangers of Nitrous Oxide after “massive” increase in empty canisters: Police in Lymm are warning about the potentially lethal dangers of inhaling Nitrous Oxide after noticing a “massive” increase in the number of empty silver canisters around the village.
'Laughing gas' warning issued after empty cartridges found in South Tyneside: A warning about the dangers of inhaling ‘laughing gas’ has been issued after discarded cartridges were sighted around South Tyneside.
Gas canisters found in Weston Hills prompts new warning about using laughing gas: A new warning about the use of laughing gas has been issued by police after gas canisters were found scattered on land in South Holland.
'Laughing gas' warning as police urge parents to speak to children about dangers of drug (Sunderland): Parents have been urged to speak to their children to deter them from using ‘laughing gas’ which can prove deadly.
The dangerous trend hooking bored Yorkshire teenagers during lockdown: Warnings have been issued on the potential fatal dangers of using nitrous oxide cannisters in Yorkshire after a rise of it being abandoned around the county.
Drug craze fears as over 500 canisters of ‘hippy crack’ found on Scots beach: A clear-up of Longniddry Bents in East Lothian saw 533 containers of nitrous oxide recovered alongside empty booze bottles.
Police issue warning to Melton ‘laughing gas’ users: Police have issued a warning to people in the Melton borough who are using so-called ‘laughing gas’ materials about the dangers they are facing.
Huge rise in ‘laughing gas’ abuse, TD claims: There has been a jump in the number of discarded canisters of nitrous oxide in parks and public areas since the pandemic began, Mark Ward said.
Revellers doing 'hippy crack' at Bolton reservoir: Teenage revellers have been seen inhaling nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas or 'hippy crack' — and drinking at a Bolton beauty spot.
Laughing gas canisters trigger health warning: A health warning has been issued after dozens of laughing gas canisters were found around Workington.
Funding boost for organisation helping young people in Lichfield and Burntwood during coronavirus crisis: ...“ Included in the bags of fun are crafting items, pots to plant seeds, wellbeing items, sweets, plus leaflets provided by Re-Solv for young people and parents surrounding issues in lockdown.”
IRELAND
‘I’ll probably die of a broken heart’ — Parents speak out about dangers of ‘hippy crack’ following 15-year-old’s death: The parents of a 15-year-old boy have spoken out about the dangers of Nitrous Oxide, also known as ‘hippy crack’, following his death.
Kildare Gardaí find almost 1,000 canisters of 'laughing gas' drug in house: As part of Investigations into the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Kilcock area, Gardaí searched a house in Kilcock in recent days.
Call for awareness campaign in Dublin on nitrous oxide dangers: A Dublin TD has asked the Minister for Health to set up an awareness campaign on the dangers of nitrous oxide or "laughing gas".
Use of nitrous oxide or 'hippie crack' on the rise during pandemic: A teenage boy died after inhaling the gas in Dublin last month.
No laughing matter: HSE warns against recreational use of 'laughing gas': People may take it for a short-term "euphoric high", according to the HSE's Clinical Lead on Addiction Services, Dr Eamon Keenan.
Ketamine and nitrous oxide seized by Gardai: As part of Investigations into the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Kilcock area Gardai searched a house in Kilcock during the week.
TD claims number of bored youths turning to ‘laughing gas’ is sky rocketing: The number of young people inhaling nitrous oxide, or ‘laughing gas’, has risen sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, a TD has claimed. See also Nitrus oxide: Kids being introduced to hard drugs though laughing gas epidemic: TD calls on Government to create awareness campaign around gateway drug 'hippy crack' that has claimed at least one Dublin young life and left others with life-changing injuries.
'Hippy crack' on rise in Swords: (Fingal) Regional drugs task force warns of danger of Nitrous Oxide.
Nitrous oxide: Renewed warnings as more potentially lethal 'silver bullets' discovered across Dublin: The use of 'hippy crack' has become rampant across the capital.
Warning to parents and kids as nitrous oxide canisters popping up around Ireland: Last week a devastated dad warned kids and parents of the dangers of the canisters after his son was found slumped over after taking them in Tallaght.
'Potential for serious harm' - worrying rise in use of 'laughing gas' in Kildare: The Military Police have warned of the 'potential for serious harm' of the so-called 'laughing gas' drug which has become common among some young people during the Covid-19 lockdown.
NETHERLANDS
Excessive use of laughing gas can lead to serious spinal problems: At least 64 youngsters have ended up in hospital with spinal injuries over the past two years after inhaling nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, RTL Nieuws has reported. The figures derive from sampling carried out by the Dutch association of neurologists at a number of Dutch hospitals. In several cases the youngsters, with an average age of 22, ended up in wheelchair, RTL said.
No laughing matter: new legislation will ban the sale of nitrous oxide: Junior health minister Paul Blokhuis has published his plans to severely ristrict the sale of laughing gas to consumers, six months after pledging to take action.
Laughing gas use involved in Limburg Terrace Crash: The young people who crashed their car into a terrace in Gennep on Wednesday, injuring six people, may have been using nitrous oxide or laughing gas shortly before the crash, L1 reports based on information from witnesses.
USA
Man charged with stabbing Kansas City police officer (MO): [He] told police that he was suicidal and trying to kill himself by huffing when he was approached by the officer. He said he heard voices, got scared and felt cornered by the officer and stabbed him.
‘Little Rascals’ star arrested for huffing air duster cans: Upon arriving, police discovered [the] 35-year-old in his hotel room surrounded by cans.
Lincoln woman arrested after passing out (NE): A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered three air duster bottles and the receipts of when and where they were purchased.
Crash caused by man who inhaled compressed gas, deputies say (NY): St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies say an Ogdensburg man caused his car to go off the road after he inhaled a compressed gas and passed out.
Mattydale EMT assaulted by alleged ‘whippits’ thief (NY): They call it laughing gas, but when Onondaga County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended a 30-year-old motorist suspected of being high on nitrous oxide on June 8 in Mattydale, it was clearly no laughing matter.
RUSSIA
Boris Mendelevich: ‘Sniffing as kind of substance abuse is the most widely spread addiction among teenagers’: On the threshold of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, in his op-ed column, the State Duma’s deputy, psychiatrist Boris Mendelevich talks about the scale of expansion of one of the most harmful kinds of drug addiction — substance abuse, particularly, sniffing — and difficulties with detecting the disease.
AUSTRALIA
Teen dies after fatal act during sleepover with friends: A NSW mother who lost her son six months ago is calling for more to be done to warn young people about the dangers of chroming.
Karlsson A., & Peacock, A. (2020). Recent use of nitrous oxide among people who regularly use ecstasy in Adelaide, South Australia, 2003-2019. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health under the Drug and Alcohol Program ©NDARC, UNSW SYDNEY 2020.
Chrome stoppers: Cairns youth service teams with local retailers to curb inhalant abuse 'outbreak' (Q): A first of its kind meeting in Cairns is hoping to curb 'volatile substance use' — better known as 'chroming' or 'sniffing' — among young people.
FIJI
Two men arrested last night for sniffing glue and benzine in Muanikoso: Two men aged 19 and 21 years were arrested last night in Muanikoso as they were found sniffing glue and benzine.
NEW ZEALAND
Review into care of mental-health patient before his death shows errors: He told doctors he had ongoing headaches he believed was caused by solvent abuse.
