Shropshire warning on ‘dangerous’ laughing gas craze

Scores of the discarded metal canisters have been spotted in areas including Bridgnorth and Newport – and today Health England has warned of the serious and sometimes fatal risks associated with the psychoactive substance.

The comments come as Councillor Thomas Janke, who represents the south ward on Newport Town Council, vowed to fight the growing problem.

Tony Mercer, West Midlands health and wellbeing programme manager for Public Health England, has also warned of the potential damage.

He said: “There are serious risks associated with nitrous oxide, which can be especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

“The effects can include dizziness, confusion, loss of co-ordination, sound distortions and hallucinations. It is very difficult to judge how much you have used and the substance has been linked to a number of deaths,” he said.

The short-term effects of laughing gas include feelings of euphoria, dizziness, impaired judgment and even hallucinations.

There are also potential long term effects due to the oxygen in the lungs being replaced with nitrous oxide, which can lead to a heart attack, severe brain damage or death.

Nuisance

Councillor Janke said people were growing increasingly concerned after canisters were repeatedly found in Newport’s parks.

Police have said they will add the issue to their patrol plans and Councillor Janke is calling on people to report any problems they may have. “I have found significant numbers of nitrous oxide canisters in Norbroom Park among other locations,” he said.

“I have reported and handed in a large amount of these to the police. I want to tackle the growing nuisance of these canisters within the community. We need to educate teenagers to the dangers they pose.” He said people in the town needed to work together to keep teenagers safe.

“We need to identify young people at risk of harm through use of nitrous oxide, make parents aware of risks to their children’s health and where appropriate make referrals to partner agencies,” he said.

Councillor Janke’s campaign has been backed by police.

Inspector Mark Reilly said: “Due to concerns raised by Councillor Janke, Sgt Daniel Taylor of the north safer neighbourhood team has bought these reports directly to the attention of Newport’s PCs and PCSOs to proactively add the direct prevention of nitrous oxide abuse to their patrol plans.”

Teenagers in Bridgnorth were warned to avoid the substance after cannisters were found at Friar’s Playing Field earlier this month.

Professor Rod Thomson, director of Public Health for Shropshire Council, said: “Nitrous oxide should be avoided due to the side effects and risks associated with it. It can cause dizziness, which might make you act carelessly or dangerously and put you at risk of hurting yourself. It can also cause sound distortions and potentially lead to unconsciousness or even death.”

Councillor Richard Fox, of Bridgnorth Town Council, said: “What I am interested in is getting across how harmful this can be.”

Anybody with information about the supply or import of nitrous oxide for human consumption can call 101.