‘Laughing gas’ or Nitros Oxide needs to be made a controlled substance according to members of Fingal’s Joint Policing Committee.
The huge increase in the use of Nitros Oxide by young people has led Fingal’s Joint Policing Committee writing to the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to bring forward legislation to control its use.
Small bullet type cannisters and larger cans, marked as Fast Gas, are littering our parks and the use of this substance is causing health impacts.
Cllr Ian Carey and Chair of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee said:
“Following a lengthy discussion at the last Fingal Joint Policing Committee, I wrote this week to the Minister for Justice on behalf of the group to call on the government to bring forward laws to control this substance.
“Right now police cannot effectively deal with young people they find abusing this substance. Only if they appear intoxicated can they take firm action. This should not be the case. We need to control this and send out a message that this is not acceptable behaviour.
“As far as I understand it is banned in the UK and we need to do the same here.
“The headed item was included at the request of Cllr Tania Doyle and I’m glad we had such a frank discussion with senior gardaí in relation to what needs to be done here. We need firm action to stop this substance seriously damaging the health of young people.”
