The British Interior Minister, Priti Patel, expressed her concern on Friday about the consumption of nitrogen oxide, a drug known as “laughing gas“, and called for drastic measures for those who supply this substance, after More than half a million young people reported using it between 2019 and 2020.
The official assured that she was ready to “take tough action” about the widespread use of laughing gas, which is mainly taken through balloons filled with small metal cylinders often seen in nightclub and music festival areas.
“Drug abuse can have a devastating impact on lives and communities. We are determined to do everything we can to address this problem and protect the future of our children and youth, ”said Patel.
The Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (ACMD) is now considering including more education about the harm it causes and calling for tough measures for those who give drugs to children. More than half a million young people ages 16 to 24, nearly one in 10, reported taking the drug in 2019 and 2020.
Laughing gas
Nitrous oxide, which is usually sold in small silver metal tubes and inhaled, can cause serious long-term effects, such as vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia.
In addition, it causes worrying physical reactions such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; reduction in blood pressure, heart and respiratory rhythm, alterations in blood circulation and loss of consciousness as well as lung damage.
According to specialists, the gas “induces a brief period of euphoria, which can be accompanied by” tears of joy “, which responds to” a brief activation of opiate systems in the brain. ”
The sale of nitrous oxide for its psychoactive effects was declared illegal after the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016, but currently it is not a crime to have that drug.
The British Government fears that the increase in consumption of this substance will continue, so it asked the ACMD to consider whether the illegal possession of nitrous oxide should be criminalized.
8.7 per cent of 16-24 year olds reported using nitrous oxide in the past 12 months, which is equivalent to about 549,000 people, according to the England and Wales Crime Survey.
Rejection of criminalization
The Royal Society for Public Health immediately opposed Patel’s move, warning that it was not clear that criminalizing possession would have any effect on the level of availability or use of a drug.
“The government’s insistence on criminalization and incarceration for minor drug-related offenses worsens problems related to illicit drug use, including social inequality and violence.”said Burcu Borysik, chief of policy for the charity.
He added: “The heavy-handed drug enforcement approach only spreads fear among young people, prevents them from seeking the support they need and unnecessarily drags them into the criminal justice system.”
The anti-drug charity Release warned that the proposal could burden tens of thousands of young people with criminal records “which will affect their employment and educational opportunities, something that seriously outweighs the damage from nitrous oxide.”
However, the Interior Ministry noted that laughing gas, in addition to causing serious long-term effects, “is also commonly used in antisocial gatherings and leads to littering in public places, bringing misery to communities.”
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