Nitrous oxide

Emma Cain, whose son died from substance abuse, warns youngsters about the dangers of using nitrous oxide.

The government said it was "concerned about the rise in health and social harms" of laughing gas, "particularly to young people". During a visit to Chelmsford on Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would tackle the "scourge of drugs". The ban on laughing gas is part of a £160m plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, homelessness, begging and graffiti. "There is risk of nerve damage [from nitrous oxide use] the lack of oxygen getting to the brain - it is dangerous," she added. Butane, which is contained in aerosols, is the gas primarily associated with substance abuse in the UK and is not subject to the new laws. Miss Cain said she was "over the moon" about the new law.

The possession of nitrous oxide is to be made illegal under government plans to tackle anti-social behaviour. But what is 'laughing gas' and why is it being ...

Chris Philp, minister for crime, policing and fire, said the widespread availability of nitrous oxide, as well as a rise in reports of social and health ...

He added: “It is not our desire to inhibit its use for legitimate purposes. [written response](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrous-oxide-updated-harms-assessment/government-response-acmd-nitrous-oxide-review-accessible) to the assessment, published on 23 March 2023, Chris Philp, minister for crime, policing, and fire, said that “the Government has decided to bring forward legislation to control nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class C drug”. [nitrous oxide harms assessment](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrous-oxide-updated-harms-assessment/nitrous-oxide-updated-harms-assessment-accessible#introduction), published in March 2023, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said that the Act “remains the appropriate drug legislation to tackle supply of nitrous oxide for non-legitimate use”, although it added that there is “a need for enforcement of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 to be supported by additional interventions designed to reduce health and social harms”.

The UK government has announced* that possession of nitrous oxide for human consumption will be made a criminal offence. Prof David Nutt, The Edmond J Safra ...

There is always a finite group of consumers of drugs in a society who will, if only for a brief period of time in their lives, choose to consume products that alter their reality. In this case, it is difficult to see how such a ‘zero tolerance’ approach will be enforced, and a law that cannot be enforced is not a particularly useful one with which to engage a younger population of consumers. Any drugs policy associated with the term ‘zero tolerance’ should be viewed as being a ‘red flag’ to the society to which it is being pitched. That it is used medically for obstetrics, as well as a safe analgesic for minor procedures for all ages, would render the argument that it should be banned on safety grounds a difficult one to prosecute. “Nitrous oxide is a legitimate dual use gas that is used extensively in medical situations, as well as in catering. This has the potential to cause more harm and if so would be a classic predicted impact of the perverse consequences of banning an innocuous drug potentially leading to greater harms from alternatives.”

Why on earth are ministers trying to ban it then? It all stems from a moral panic and a desire to be seen as tough on crime and anti-social behaviour, coupled ...

‘Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. In reality, plans to ban laughing gas are just another exhibition of excessive ‘safetyism’ – the belief that all risks, however minor, however personal, must be policed by the state. Sadly, this government is utterly beholden to the voices which urge us to panic about every potential danger lurking round the corner, as evidenced by their approach to regulating everything from food and drugs, to financial markets and the internet. In a free and open society, individuals should be able to do as they wish with their own bodies so long as it does not infringe on anybody else’s right to do the same. Nor is it even clear that the reported deaths are directly due to laughing gas, or to other substances or activity engaged in at the same time. Is sending them after groups of kids with balloons and whipped cream canisters really the best use of scarce resources?

Deaths from drug overdoses rise year on year. Over 125 people a week died from drug poisoning in the UK in 2021. Therefore, the move by the government to ban ...

The Green Party is the only political party that has a policy that takes drugs seriously. We also want to make people aware of the environmental harms of NOS – which is Bright Green has got big plans for the future to publish many more articles like this. We have looked at the evidence and recognise that the Misuse of Drugs Act fails on every possible measure. There is evidence that a fundamental change in our approach to controlling drugs is needed. The government wants to appear to be ‘tackling crime’ by taking the measure to ban NOS – but all evidence suggests the ban is disproportionate and will do more harm. The police, trading standards and Local Authorities already have the power to tackle problematic NOS use. By looking at the actual harms and benefits of each drug and legislating accordingly. [died](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2021registrations) from drug poisoning in the UK in 2021. [position](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=dlD-8pSlXrI) on drug policy, Labour are providing no opposition to this. Deaths and demand for treatment for problematic drug use is low compared to other drugs (including alcohol), and this ban is likely to push people to purchase larger volume canisters which may be linked to higher use and therefore greater subsequent harms in some people. This, we know, will inevitably lead to many more people (particularly young people) being criminalised, shackled with life-limiting criminal records.

Emma Cain, whose son died from substance abuse, warns youngsters about the dangers of using nitrous oxide.

The government said it was "concerned about the rise in health and social harms" of laughing gas, "particularly to young people". During a visit to Chelmsford on Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would tackle the "scourge of drugs". The ban on laughing gas is part of a £160m plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, homelessness, begging and graffiti. "There is risk of nerve damage [from nitrous oxide use] the lack of oxygen getting to the brain - it is dangerous," she added. Butane, which is contained in aerosols, is the gas primarily associated with substance abuse in the UK and is not subject to the new laws. Miss Cain said she was "over the moon" about the new law.