Coventry City Council issues Public Health warning against nitrous oxide use
The popularity of the drug has resulted in an increase in hospitalisations in the city.
Healthcare partners in Coventry are warning younger residents of the dangerous and damaging effects of using nitrous oxide, more commonly known as ‘laughing gas’. Nitrous Oxide (NOS) is a colourless gas sold in canisters, usually inhaled using a balloon.
This follows an increase in hospitalisations in the city and healthcare professionals are growing increasingly concerned that the popularity of the drug is causing neurological complications, such as spinal cord and nerve damage. In the last five weeks, there have been five admissions, four of these patients were young men.
Patients admitted to hospital after using the drug are often young males and University students who are taking large quantities for social purposes due to it being cheap and readily available.
Coventry City Council Cabinet member for Public Health and Sport, Cllr Kamran Caan said “it is absolutely terrifying to see and hear of young people being paralysed by laughing gas. Teenagers and young men may think it happens to someone else and won’t happen to them, which is why it is so important to work with our partners to raise awareness and spread the message that these life changing risks are not worth taking just for a cheap legal high”.
TalkToFrank reports that “regular use can stop you forming white blood cells properly... It can be hard to judge the amount to use safely. If you have too much you can end up fainting, having an accident or worse”.
“It may be possible to become psychologically dependent on nitrous oxide, meaning that users develop an increased desire to keep using it despite the harm it may cause”.
While it’s considered a legal high, nitrous oxide is covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act and is illegal to supply for its psychoactive effect (as of 2016).
What you can do
Report activity
You can report concerns about the selling of nitrous oxide by reporting any incidents to West Midlands Police.
Parents/guardians/carers
Having sensitive conversations with young people in your care is the best way to increase promote a safe conversation around drug use, resilience, and potentially help them make an informed choice about their behaviour. To have these conversations you need to be fully aware of the risks associated with abusing nitrous oxide. TalkToFrank has resources with further information on laughing gas use.