One of Spalding’s top police officers has warned of the misuse of inhaling laughing gas amid claims it’s on the increase.
South Holland Police have warned of a sharp increase in the inhaling of nitrous oxide or NOS as it’s also known.
Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Rick Mosley says many people don’t know the danger inhaling it can cause.
“There seems to be quite a lot of ignorance surrounding it,” he said. “I’ve seen people online saying its just carbon dioxide and they don’t realise how dangerous it can be.
“They don’t know it can lead to illness or life changing injuries.
“It’s not illegal because it’s used for so many different legal uses.
“But given the dangers of it, I feel the law has got to catch up.
“We certainly have to stress the effects it can have and the damage it can do including leading to a lack of oxygen and nerve damage.”
Nitrous oxide slows your brain and body’s responses for a short period causing dizziness and inhaling too much, such as straight out of the canister, can lead to a spasm of the throat muscle which stops you breathing.
Regular use can lead to white blood cells not forming properly and to a deficiency of vitamin B12 which can lead to serious nerve damage.
Though there’s no penalty for possessing it, it is illegal to give it away or to sell it which carries with it a sentence of up to seven years in prison.
A number of people have contacted The Voice recently to say they’ve noticed more and more of the left over canisters in locations around South Holland.
“It does seem like there’s been an increase in usage,” said Sgt Mosley. “We don’t get a lot reported because it’s not as obvious.
“You can’t smell it like you would someone smoking a joint and it’s not like someone using a needle.
“What you do see is more and more of the canisters it comes in dotted around the area.
“Hopefully more people will begin to realise about the damage it can cause.”
