Use of Nitrous Oxide

In January student officer PC Bowyer and Sergeant Pervin held the Moortown PACT meeting where members of the community raised concerns around the use of Nitrous Oxide amongst young people.

Following these conversations we thought we would share some information with you and highlight some of the dangers. As Nitrous Oxide is easily accessible to the public, some people are unaware that it is illegal to consume and sell for illegitimate purposes.

Nitrous oxide has been reclassified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession of Nitrous oxide can lead to 2 years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Some of the side effects of Nitrous Oxide are:

• Can cause headaches and dizziness.

• You can lose consciousness, faint or suffocate due to lack of oxygen. This can cause death.

• Heavy daily use could lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12 or a form of anaemia. A severe deficiency could lead to serious nerve damage which can cause tingling and numbness in the toes. Due to the deficiency, people can have difficulty walking and this can lead to paralysis.

There are different agencies and charities that offer support to young adults using Nitrous Oxide such as Forward Leeds; they can be contacted directly on 0113 887 2757 or via text on 07525 265755. You can also do a self-referral online, via their homepage - https://www.forwardleeds.co.uk/get-help/for-young-people/

Barca Leeds are also a local charity that form part of Forward Leeds, and they offer support and interventions for young people and their families who have suffered from substance abuse.

More details regarding nitrous oxide can also be found on https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/nitrous-oxide.