Nitrous oxide set to be banned in crackdown on laughing gas
Michael Gove has this morning announced plans for the government to ban Nitrous oxide.
The canisters – known as laughing gas – are commonly used by youngsters across the UK.
The Levelling up secretary made the announcement this morning on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.
The move is part of a pack of measures designed to curb anti-social behaviour, which is set to be a key issue in the run-up to the next general election.
People convicted of anti-social behaviour will be ordered to repair the damage they have caused within two days of being told their punishment, under new plans.
He said: ‘Antisocial behaviour can ruin lives.
‘I think anyone who has the opportunity to walk through our parks in our major cities will have seen these little silver canisters, which are examples of people not only spoiling public spaces but taking a drug which can have a psychological and neurological effect and one that contributes to antisocial behaviour overall.’
Mr Gove said he is unsure of what category the drug will fall under.
He added: ‘We can’t have a situation, we mustn’t have a situation where our drugs, our public spaces become drug taking arenas and that is why we need to do crackdown on new manifestations of drug taking.’
Last year a woman from east London was left paralysed after bingeing on laughing gas for three days at a time.
What is nitrous oxide (NOS)?
Nitrous oxide is a gas legally used in medicine and catering.
It is often sold in smaller silver cannisters for catering and events and this is usually how users get hold of it.
The most common way to do NOS as a drug is to transfer the gas into a balloon and inhale the balloon.
Some people inhale the NOS straight from the cannister but this is extremely dangerous.
The desired effect is to feel giggly, relaxed, euphoric and distort reality. It can also make people feel anxious, paranoid and dizzy. The effects only last for about two minutes.
The gas works by temporarily preventing oxygen from reaching the blood.
Source: Frank
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