Government urged to tackle laughing gas issue

A Sinn Féin local election candidate has warned about the dangers of using nitrous oxide.

Olive Sloan, a Sinn Féin candidate for Artane / Whitehall, has flagged the issue as a major cause of concern. 

“We have become increasingly troubled at the prevalence of nitrous oxide bottles discarded around the area,” she said, and stated “you only have to walk into any estate or green area, and you will see large, discarded canisters of nitrous oxide”

Commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ or ‘hippy crack,’ the drug has become a popular recreational drug in communities across Dublin and other parts of Ireland.

Discussing how it is affecting her community, Sloan said “we are constantly coming across these metal containers during the course of our community work.”

“These discarded containers obviously reflect the risky use of this product by some local people. When they first came out, we used to see small single-use canisters, known as silver bullets, discarded around the place. Now they have been replaced by large canisters. which have super doses in them.”

She explained that the larger canisters are being sold on the street for €40 each, and that dealers are making “vast” profits from the sale of nitrous oxide.

Sloan pointed to comments made by a neurology specialist at the Mater Hospital last year, who said that a number of patients suffered nerve damage are inhaling the gas.

Doctor Esther Macken reported that the gas caused a range of sensory issues in patients, such as numbness in their hands, feet and extremities, serious issues with balance, problems with their heart rate, and mental health issues.

A report published in April 2023 by the HSE on their Adolescent Addiction Service has shown that 22% of young people attending their service admitted to taking Nitrous Oxide on occasion, reflecting an increase of 175% compared to 2021.

Sloan said that a colleague spoke with a nurse in the accident and emergency at Beaumont hospital, and claimed they are treating one patient per week who are suffering from the effects of nitrous oxide. 

“Increasingly, people are being admitted to hospital with paralysis and brain damage as a result of nitrous oxide use,” she noted, and further stated that heavy use can impair the creation of vitamin B12, leading to toxicity and nerve damage, up to and including damage to the spine.

“So over the past three years, families, health specialists, Gardaí and addiction workers have been highlighting the rise in the use and health consequences of nitrous oxide, but yet the government has taken no action,” Sloan said.

“Government and their departments have made no effort to introduce legislation or run a national campaign to educate on harm reduction, reduce use or on health awareness.”

“Why? Even if it saves only one life, or stops people suffering paralysis, is that not worth it?”

 Sloan raised the issue with Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward, who also serves as the party spokesperson on Mental Health, Youth Justice and Community Safety.

Ward said that he submitted legislation in April of this year that would regulate the sale of Nitrous Oxide to commercial use only, and hoped that the bill would be brought forward in November. 

“I am introducing this legislation as the Government have not reacted to this issue with any urgency,” he said.

“This is like legislation introduced in The Netherlands where authorities are regulating the use of nitrous oxide outside the medical and catering industries.”

“This bill will not criminalise young people for simple possession of nitrous oxide, however, it would give the Gardaí the power to seize the canisters.”

“A young person taking Nitrous Oxide is playing Russian roulette, because they do not know the effect that the gas is going to have on them until they take it,” he added.

In March of this year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans that would designate nitrous oxide as a controlled substance, with those caught using it facing possible jail time.