This January we remember Barbara Skinner MBE, founder of Solve It, who has died at the age of 70.
Barbara's full obituary is carried in the Northamptonshire Telegraph.
UK
A drug use survey completed by 16,000 students at UK universities and carried out by The Tab found that 12.1% of respondents most commonly used nitrous oxide.
"Out of the following options – weed, ketamine, cocaine, MDMA, Xanax, nitrous oxide, speed and hallucinogenics – 44 per cent of students (6,908 respondents) said they used weed most often. The next most popular drug is cocaine, with 1,959 votes, followed by nitrous oxide (nos/laughing gas) with 1,905, ketamine with 1,842, and then hallucinogenics with 1,163. The least popular drugs are speed and Xanax with just 495 and 576 votes respectively."
Other headlines this month include:
[Coventry] Man found with laughing gas was ready to supply to users: [He] pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a psychoactive substance (nitrous oxide) which he intended to supply to another for its consumption.
Suspected drug dealer arrested after being found with 100 nitrous oxide canisters in Jesmond: A 24-year-old man was found with £600 in cash and 100 laughing gas canisters but claimed he was delivering them for a catering business.
Police investigation launched after cargo of nitrous oxide canisters discovered in Ribble Valley: Police were called out yesterday after a large box of the so called 'laughing gas' canisters were found in Whalley.
Four people caught inhaling laughing gas in a car tell police they were 'just chilling': A group of people from different households were caught breaking lockdown rules by sitting in a car together and inhaling nitrous oxide, telling police they were 'just chilling'.
Getting serious about misuse of laughing gas: Tower Hamlets Council wants to introduce new legal powers to help it tackle the use of psychoactive substances and laughing gas.
Police urged to take nitrous oxide seriously: A police force has been accused of failing to take the issue of the recreational drug nitrous oxide seriously amid claims of a rampant problem among young people in a North-East town.
Horsham council plans crackdown on aggressive street sellers, buskers, alcohol and ‘legal highs’: It includes proposals to ban people from using ‘legal highs’ - such as nitrous oxide canisters.
Lockdown party organisers are slapped with £30,000 in fines for holding illegal floating raves on canal boats putting revellers in 'grave danger': [Police} found DJ decks, a bar and cannisters used for inhaling nitrous oxide.
Laughing gas warning after canisters found at Kelty Primary School: Police have urged parents and carers to warn their youngsters of the dangers of nitrous oxide after the discoveries.
4,750 ‘laughing gas’ canisters and a ‘large amount’ of illicit tobacco found at convenience store: Police and Bolton Council officers found a shop worker trying to hide tobacco inside a bin bag.
Fenland police recovered over 500 discarded nitrous oxide canisters in an area of one town: Fenland police officers are warning of the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide.
Beverley residents perplexed by 'deadly' drug canisters littering town: Residents say the town's hidden drug problem is 'getting worse'.
Healthcare worker warns of dangers of laughing gas after cannisters dumped in Bolton: A healthcare worker who found a collection of laughing gas cannisters dumped on a residential road has warned of the serious dangers they present to users.
Police say they will be carrying out patrols at Wepre park today following recent Covid breach issues: Police have also said they will be patrol “remote hotspots”including Hope Mountain and Halkyn Common after “various reports of discarded items” including nitrous oxide canisters.
IRELAND
Growing concerns at increase in use of nitrous oxide cannisters: There are growing concerns across South Dublin around the apparent re-emergence and continued recreational use of nitrous oxide canisters.
BELGIUM
1 in 7 young Belgian drivers regularly take laughing gas before driving: One in seven Belgian drivers under 34 years old regularly uses laughing gas (or nitrous oxide) before driving, according to a study by the Vias road safety institute.
USA
Findings were published on Dec 15th from the most recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among teens in the United States. Among eighth graders, past 12-month use of inhalants has increased from 3.8% in 2016 to 6.1% in 2020, a 64% proportional increase, unlike 12th graders, who reported an all-time low use of inhalants.
Aerosol chemical found in blood tests of man who died in Kennewick police car (WA): When police arrived, they saw him using drugs, according to police. [He] was conscious when he was handcuffed and put in a patrol car. As officers were investigating, they noticed he was “experiencing an apparent medical emergency,” said a SIU release. A later news story confirmed: Tri-Cities man died in a police car after ‘huffing’ an aerosol cleaner, say officials: ... The release said his being detained played no role in his death.
Liquor bottles, candles and 'whippits' found in shed after fire that killed ex-Zappos CEO: Evidence found where the final fire started included discarded cigarettes, a marijuana pipe, liquor bottles, several candles and nitrous oxide containers known to be used for "whippits" to get high, Skau said. Hsieh also was using a propane heater that was found to have been partially disassembled when found by investigators.
Police say ‘huffing’ leads to several wrecks Monday morning (WA): “Huffing” — the breathing in of vapors to produce a high — reportedly led to several collisions, including one with a home on Sumner Avenue, Saturday morning.
INDIA
Substance abuse among street children of Guwahati: We often experience seeing adolescents and young children walking on the streets or sitting in some isolated places of Guwahati with glue bottles essentially stuck to their nostrils.
Teens in Warangal get ‘high’ on glue-sniffing: Parents a worried lot as the addiction is fast catching up among them in several mandals of Warangal Rural, Jangaon and other districts.
AUSTRALIA
Blame game, boiling tensions and criminal charges overshadow housing plea at 'tent city': [One interviewee] who was released from jail in early 2020, admits she has a history of alcohol and solvent abuse, and poor tenancy, but claims she is clean and determined to get her life on track for the sake of her family.
