VSU Headlines - July 2021

UK

Penryn teenager died after inhaling gases from deodorant cans: His parents had no idea of his solvent abuse.

Jailed in Norfolk: 'Dangerous' machete wielder and man jumping on cars. [He] had previously been given a community order to help with his use of alcohol and butane gas addiction.

Man from Sawtry banned from entering St Ives and Huntingdon town centres for five years: The order also states he must not: ... Be in possession of any aerosol, inhalant substances or butane gas canister in a public place. Consume any aerosol, inhalant substances or butane gas canister in a public place ...

Spate of deaths in Spanish hotels sparks major warning for British tourists: Revellers have been urged to steer clear of nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas - following two tragedies and several serious injuries, including one British teenager who broke both her legs jumping from a bridge.

White van men 'knock out' driver after throwing laughing gas canisters at his car: The victim, 50, was left with serious injuries.

[Manchester] Police seize cannabis, alcohol, and nitrous oxide canisters from stop searches: The seizure marks the first weekend people in England are partying since restrictions were eased.

Dr Zak: nitrous oxide abuse is no laughing matter: A recent small US study of patients with treatment resistant depression has suggested that inhaled nitrous oxide, administered in a doctor’s office at regular intervals, may improve patients’ symptoms.

Love Island's Liam Reardon ‘inhales hippy crack’ in resurfaced clip with friends at outdoor gathering: In the social media video posted by his friend in 2019, the Welsh brick layer, 21, appears to breath in the 'laughing gas' through a blue balloon while surrounded by pals. 

Warning after 227 nitrous oxide canisters found on rural Gloucestershire road: The policing team also issued a warning to people messing about with the gas, reminding them that nitrous oxide can be fatal if inhaled and should not be used recreationally.

Nitrous oxide canisters found in Leavesden Country Park: A former park ranger has warned young people are risking their health after a “shocking” amount of nitrous oxide canisters were found in Leavesden Country Park (Herts).

Police seize 'hippy crack' in Holmer Green after complaints: Police confirm there have been complaints of misuse of nitrous oxide in Holmer Green (Bucks).

IRELAND

Nitrous oxide warning as laughing gas becomes huge problem for Dublin teenagers: Whippets, laughing gas, or hippy crack are just a few of the names for the nitrous oxide trend.

Abuse of laughing gas becoming a problem for teenagers: An expert is warning of the dangers of nitrous oxide after a surge in abuse of the substance, while South Dublin County Council has passed a motion to try and tackle the issue. 

NETHERLANDS

MPs want to go ahead with national laughing gas ban: The majority of parliamentarians have expressed their support for a ban on the recreational use of laughing gas. The caretaker Cabinet postponed banning the substance this spring due to insufficient resources to enforce it, and opted for the next Cabinet to handle the issue.

USA

‘Collin’s Law’ signed to stiffen hazing penalties in Ohio: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday signed “Collin’s Law,” named for Collin Wiant, an 18-year-old Ohio University freshman who died in 2018 after ingesting nitrous oxide at a fraternity house.

Why is the FDA warning about nitrite poppers? The FDA issued its warning because it has noticed an increase in reports of hospitalizations and deaths after inhalation or ingestion of nitrite poppers. The FDA statement can be found here. 

Deflated balloons along river appear to be remnants of nitrous oxide use during concerts (NC): Noticed deflated balloons near Riverfront Park earlier this week? It’s the aftermath of a subculture looking for a speedy and potentially dangerous high this past weekend. It’s also a glaring environmental concern.

AUSTRALIA

‘Wasted life’: Teen’s brain damaged after inhaling deodorant fumes: The 16-year-old has severe brain damage after inhaling cans of deodorant. Aussie mum shares tragic footage of daughter hospitalised for inhaling deodorant fumes: The footage shows the devastating impact "chroming" had on her bed-ridden teenager, who remains in hospital care.

Whipping cream canisters have many uses beyond ‘nangs’. Banning them isn’t necessary: Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has been considering whether whipping cream canisters containing nitrous oxide should be placed in Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard.

Major supermarkets lock up aerosol deodorants to combat 'chroming' in NT: Supermarket giant Woolworths is locking away all aerosol deodorant products in the Northern Territory to help reduce inhalant abuse among young people.

VSU Headlines - June 2021

UK

Appeal after collision and nitrous oxide incident: At 5.30pm officers arrested a 21-year-old man from Hertfordshire, near the junction of Tacon Road and Pretyman Road, on suspicion of drug-driving.

British teenager leapt off bridge after taking laughing gas in Spain: Just hours later ... a 31-year-old British man ended up in intensive care after attempting to jump off a balcony and into a swimming pool. The man had also been taking laughing gas, or nitrous oxide and drinking.

Window cleaners ran profitable sideline selling laughing gas drug to users: [They] were caught with 1,700 nitrous oxide canisters in their car and more than £2,000 in cash.

Flintshire operation launched to tackle youth 'laughing gas' use: A police operation has been launched to crack down on the dangerous illicit use of 'laughing gas' by youths.

Asda staff abused by people getting high on laughing gas in Oadby store car park: A banning order is now being considered.

Scores of people make their voices heard on proposals to clamp down on ‘hippy crack’ in Harborough: Their comments and feedback are now being reviewed by Harborough District Council following the six-week public consultation.

Other stories concerned with nitrous oxide use and related antisocial behaviour came from Birmingham, Calderdale, Cardiff, Gillingham, Leicestershire, Oldham, and Whitstable.

David Cameron’s Great Aunt Loved Morphine, and Other Historical UK Drug Facts: Half a century since the birth of Britain’s dubious Misuse of Drugs Act, a new book delves into the history of our equally dubious war on drugs ... Overall, according to Shapiro, “solvent sniffing has caused more deaths among teenagers than all the other drugs put together”.

IRELAND

Tragic 'hippy crack' teen's father slams Drug Minister's curbs as "a joke": Alex's parents have set up a community group to raise awareness about hippy crack and other drugs and will go to schools to speak about their son's death.

Dublin Bay South: Concerns over drug use among youths: Empty laughing gas canisters can be found scattered across Ringsend's parks and amenities.

SPAIN

Two men with over 70 bottles of “laughing gas” arrested in Marbella: The two men were arrested with more than 70 bottles of nitrous oxide, known as “laughing gas”, along with promotional leaflets offering the supply of the dangerous gas to private parties on the Costa del Sol.

USA

Plea hearing set for driver accused of huffing, texting in fatal pedestrian crash (WI): [He] is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, homicide by a vehicle using a controlled substance and hit-and-run.

Man admits to doing 'Whip-Its' before crashing into Lubbock Police Department truck (TX): The suspect involved in a car crash with a Lubbock Police Department truck on Wednesday, June 2nd, has admitted to doing "whip-its" around 15 to 20 minutes before the crash.

Police say he was high when he crashed his truck in Great Barrington. Now, they can't prove it (MA): Police say a town man was high from inhaling from a can of computer duster when he crashed his pickup truck into another vehicle, causing what the other driver says are lasting injuries.

Two teens arrested when found parked by Lake Mendocino with a loaded gun, drugs (CA): Charges of possessing nitrous oxide and falsely identifying himself to a peace officer were filed against [a 19-year-old] and he was released.

Norfolk man arrested on suspicion of fourth DUI after inhaling compressed air (NE): It was determined by police that [he] allegedly inhaled the compressed air shortly before driving, causing his impaired driving ability.

Whippet usage still prevalent among New York youth: Legislation aims to decrease drug use among New York teens.

AUSTRALIA

Coles removes aerosol deodorants from aisles at Northern Territory stores: Aerosol deodorants have been pulled from the shelves and put behind locked cabinets at all Coles stores across the Northern Territory amid fears they are being used misused.

Urgent need for more support: Volatile Substance Abuse is widespread in the NT and each day it becomes increasingly critical more work is done to prevent Territorians from moving on to life-threatening narcotics.

Newman police back Opal fuels to tackle petrol sniffing, call on town to lock up.

NEW ZEALAND

Coroner issues huffing warning following death of teen in deodorant fireball: [The 16-year-old] was inhaling deodorant fumes in his room when the cans blew up, causing severe burns that ended his life.

Soft bylaw rules give room for anti-social behaviour in South Waikato parks: Anti-social behaviour in South Waikato parks has prompted an early review of the district’s Public Places Bylaw ... in light of the large quantities of nitrous oxide canisters, balloons, bags of vomit, and alcohol bottles being left on council grounds and car parks after sport events and functions.