Labour MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, tabled a debate on Tuesday 21st July to push for reforms to restrict sales of nitrous oxide. In an article for The House, Rosie Duffield explained: "I am calling for a review into the classification of Nitrous Oxide and fast action on how the sale can be further restricted to professional catering and medical consumers." The debate can be found here in Hansard.
The British Compressed Gases Association published a press release calling for an "outright retail ban of Nitrous Oxide."
However, a Parliamentary Briefing prepared by DrugScience, The Global Drug Survey, Release and Transform Drug Policy Foundation argued that: "Policy responses should not be focused on tighter regulations or criminalisation of users as this has the potential to create greater harms for young people" and that "effective harm reduction information to reduce the potential risks to users is the answer."
The issue was covered by the BBC, Sky News and national newspapers, with stories in the Daily Express, Guardian, Independent, and Sun. Vice News also carried a feature, having spoken to a number of recreational Nos users on an online safer drug use forum.
Headlines this month include:
Nitrous Oxide
A Stop nitrous oxide (N2O / laughing gas) abuse in our communities petition calls on the government to investigate better controls of its sale/access, educate the public on the dangers of N2O abuse and make it an offence to inhale nitrous oxide for recreational purposes.
MP writes to Home Secretary Priti Patel over laughing gas concerns: Simon Clarke's letter comes as Middlesbrough Councillor Jon Rathmell called for local politicians to 'step up' in tackling the problem.
Rising use of nitrous oxide is no laughing matter, say MPs: Responding to [MP for Bolton North East] Mark Logan's calls for the Government to look at how to end the matter, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said he understood the seriousness of the issue and that MPs will debate the matter on Tuesday July 21.
RPS aims to push nitrous oxide misuse issue into Parliament: The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is working with the parliamentarians in bid to end the misuse of nitrous oxide.
BBC interviews with Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Chief Scientist Gino Martini and mother, Leesa Davies, who lost her son to nitrous oxide. Radio 2's Jeremy Vine also explored the issue on 6th July.
Nothing to joke about: The ‘hippy crack’ laughing gas epidemic with deadly potential that’s gripping the UK.
'Hippy crack' now the trendy drug of choice for Britain's post-lockdown teens: ... But unlike teenagers from a previous generation she doesn’t smoke, and only drinks occasionally. Instead, she is a frequent user of nitrous oxide – or laughing gas – which she and her friends inhale from balloons. She has been since she was 15.
‘It’s like Russian roulette’: Fife councillor who lost son to solvent abuse calls for action over latest craze: A Fife councillor whose son died from solvent abuse is calling for more restrictions to be put on the sale of nitrous oxide canisters.
Dangers of 'laughing gas' exposed in new safety campaign: A safety campaign warning of the danger of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, has been launched in the Dudley borough.
New campaign in Doncaster warns about dangers of party drug 'laughing gas': A new campaign is underway in Doncaster to educate young people about the risks of using the psychoactive drug nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas or NOs. More information here.
Community centres mapping use of Nitrous Oxide in Bradford: Criminal justice workers have stepped up their campaign to re-categorise a legal high and stop young people from falling into addictions that "spiral out of control".
Bored youngsters have turned to using 'hippy crack' fear council bosses: As a result, the Nuneaton and Bedworth Safer Communities Partnership (NABSCOP) is working with Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and Compass to raise awareness around the risks of using nitrous oxide.
Calls for greater education on dangers of Nitrous Oxide after surge in use by young people: A Norwich drug and alcohol charity has called for there to be more education around the dangers of nitrous oxide, following the growing trend in the numbers of young people using it as a recreational drug.
Leeds Council urged to help rid communities of 'laughing gas' and explain dangers of nitrous oxide: Leeds city council has been urged to do more to help rid communities of ‘laughing gas’.
Sudbury councillor calls for stricter rules on sales of nitrous oxide after reports of drug use in town: Voicing concern over the increasing misuse of the substance, town councillor Steve Hall said: “It was disappointing to see evidence, again, that widespread usage of inhaling nitrous oxide is still taking place in Sudbury.”
Police warnings about the use of nitrous oxide were also issued in Cheshire, Coventry, East Lancashire, Essex, North Tyneside, North Yorkshire, Sheffield, Wiltshire, and Worcester / Worcestershire.
Complaints about behaviour and/or the littering of nitrous oxide canisters were reported in Bristol, Cardiff, Devon, Doncaster, Fife, Hartlepool, Hereford, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, Manchester, Newport, North Yorkshire, Portsmouth, Somerset and Wigan.
Musselburgh girl injured after being 'mown down' by laughing gas teen with car full of drugs: An 18 year old man has been charged following the alleged incident on Wednesday.
Medics fear man's stomach will explode after he swallows laughing gas canister: [He] was rushed to hospital by his friends after he swallowed a laughing gas cannister whole as a bet, only to send baffled doctors scrambling for a bovine case study.
Illegal cigarettes worth £3,000 and 160 boxes of 'hippy crack' seized in Gloucester: Nitrous oxide is covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act and is illegal to supply - it could lead to up to seven years in jail and an unlimited fine.
Huge raid on Sefton Park flats as police find laughing gas and 'Batman' drugs: A stash of cannabis, MDMA and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) were seized by police during a raid of a flat by Sefton Park.
Men in pre-lockdown hospital raids spree due back in court this month: A case involving Norfolk men who were part of a gang that broke into hospitals during the coronavirus crisis to steal gas canisters is back in court this month.
Catering supplier to Bake Off, Masterchef and Saturday Kitchen has to turn down dozens of suspicious orders for nitrous oxide as 'hippy crack' becomes big business: A catering supplier whose customers include TV cooking shows such as Bake Off, MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen has been refusing orders for the laughing gas nitrous oxide.
Campdesuner V, Teklie Y, Alkayali T, et al. (July 09, 2020) Nitrous Oxide-Induced Vitamin B12 Deficiency Resulting in Myelopathy. Cureus 12(7): e9088. doi:10.7759/cureus.9088
Butane Gas
Butane gas addict jailed for ISIS bomb threat that triggered huge evacuation: Hundreds of workers were evacuated from Magdalen House after Jim Evans made two hoax calls.
Gas-sniffing thief pulled knife on Dundee shop staff after being caught stealing crème eggs: “The accused appeared to be sniffing gas from a hidden can up his sleeve. The witness asked him to remove whatever he had and a knife fell out which he threw under a nearby table.”
Poppers
'TERRIBLE TRAGEDY': Arbroath woman dies after downing whole bottle of legal high poppers XL Gold sold as sex stimulant.
IRELAND
'Just say no' - heartbroken father whose son died from laughing gas warns others to stay away from 'lethal' drug: The heartbroken father of a teenage boy who died after ingesting nitrous oxide, otherwise known as ‘laughing gas’, has urged teenagers to stay away from the ‘lethal’ drug.
Nitrous Oxide: “He went out to get his hair cut and he never came home.”: “Unfortunately on his way back, he met some of his friends and they went off and done whatever they were doing. So, from what I hear from his friends, they were going at these nitrous oxide cannisters and unfortunately, whatever happened, [my son] passed away then a short while later.”
Laughing gas recognised on HSE website after drug associated with death of teenager at Tallaght lockdown party: The news was welcomed by Sinn Fein Deputy Mark Ward, left, who has highlighted a surge in the number of discarded canisters of the drug in Dublin Mid-West.
Garda warning over laughing gas 'nagging' craze among teenagers: In January of this year, The HSE warned young people of the risks associated with using Nitrous Oxide 'laughing gas' due to an increase in use within communities.
‘Drug craze’: Use of laughing gas by under-18s should be banned: Google ‘profiting’ from sale of nitrous oxide, which causes paralysis and death, says Emer Higgins.
NETHERLANDS
No further decrease in alcohol, drug use among school kids; laughing gas use on the rise: After years of decline, the use of “traditional” substances like tobacco, alcohol and cannabis among school children stabilized last year, while the use of “new temptations” like laughing gas and non-alcoholic drinks are on the rise, the Trimbos Institute reported on Tuesday.
Nitrous oxide controversy revived as students and parties return from quarantine: ... now the discarded metal bottles of nitrous oxide or ‘laughing gas’ has became such a nuisance again that a renewed call for new regulations is gaining support in Utrecht.
BELGIUM
Belgium wants to ban selling laughing gas to minors: A bill banning the sale of metal capsules containing laughing gas (nitrous oxide) has been approved in Belgium's parliamentary health committee on Monday.
FRANCE
France may ban 'laughing gas' sale to minors as usage grows: France may soon ban the sale of nitrous oxide capsules - known as “laughing gas” - to minors, as national health body Anses launches a study into the chemical’s increased use and possible neurological side effects.
USA
Crowbar-wielding daughter bludgeons parents to death after being confronted about huffing paint (NV): A Nevada woman was sentenced late last month to life in prison without parole for beating her parents to death with a crowbar and lighting their house on fire after they caught her huffing paint in the garage.
Prison for DUI mom who endangered kids by huffing: A York-area woman has been sentenced to state prison for crashing into the Taco Bell along York's Route 30 corridor after huffing compressed air.
Family files lawsuit against Silver Serpent store: The family of [a student] who died during a fraternity hazing at Ohio University, is filing a lawsuit against the store at the center of the case.
Driver accused of huffing aerosol (WI): Suspect faces charges in multiple counties.
Woman allegedly steals aerosol dusters five separate times from Wilkes-Barre Target (PA): [She] has been arrested after she stole aerosol air dusters five times from the Target in Wilkes-Barre.
A coke-sniffing, gas-inhaling doctor kept practicing after ordered to stop, state says (FL): A Stuart doctor who the state of Florida says sniffed cocaine off his desk and inhaled nitrous oxide at work has had his medical license suspended for writing controlled substance prescriptions.
Walmart faces class action over kids’ huffing of dust spray: Walmart Inc. and AW Distribution Inc. are facing a proposed class action over the sale of dust removal spray that some purchasers intentionally inhale to get high.
FIJI
Two teenagers arrested for sniffing glue: Two 18-year-old individuals were arrested for sniffing glue in Nadawa, Nasinu area during curfew hours last night.
