Use of Nitrous Oxide needs to be sorted – Jerry Roodhouse
Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox) is concerned about the increasing use of Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas by young people in Rugby and is urging Rugby Borough Council to take action to address the situation.
Councillor Roodhouse has tabled a Written Question to be answered at Full Council on Thursday 26 September 2019 by the relevant Portfolio Holder.
Incidents of use have been reported at the GEC Recreation Ground on Hillmorton Road due to cannisters and boxes left littering the local the local area.
According to the drug information website Frank it is very dangerous to inhale nitrous oxide directly from the canister and doing it in an enclosed space is also very dangerous. If you take too much nitrous oxide you risk falling unconscious and/or suffocating from the lack of oxygen. People have died this way.
There is no specific offence of possession nor to inhale and the only offence currently would be littering. Supply of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes is technically illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. This means anyone found to be selling or giving away nitrous oxide for illicit purposes could face up to seven years in prison and or an unlimited fine.
Commenting, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, said:
"This is a problem across the borough. It is not illegal to purchase these cylinders which contain nitrous oxide as they are used in some foods, such as cream. They can be bought easily on internet websites. The difficultly then is their illegal use as an intoxicating substance.
"Locally, we need to support the police with information and young people need advice with what to do should they come across dealers and help for users. Nationally, if the Government passed a law making it a specific offence to possess the gas this would make it easier for the police to detect and prosecute users."
Question to Portfolio Holder. (Cllr Jerry Roodhouse): There is an increasing evidence that young people within the Borough are using increased amounts of "Nitrox Oxide" laughing gas. The medical evidence has also increased about the damage this can do to the brain. Could the Portfolio Holder state what actions the Council is taking with the other agencies to reduce this?
Honest information about drugs Frank website - Nitrous Oxide