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The discarded silver gas canisters. Mark Ward TD via Facebook

Use of nitrous oxide or 'hippie crack' on the rise during pandemic

A teenage boy died after inhaling the gas in Dublin last month.

COMMUNITY DRUG ACTIVISTS have warned that the use of nitrous oxide has become more widespread during the Covid-19 lockdown.

There has been a spike in the amount of drug litter connected to nitrous oxide being discovered in Irish parks in recent weeks, according to a number of local representatives. 

Much of the debris is in the form of small gas cylinders which had contained nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or hippie crack, which is a legal gas. 

The drug is also suspected as being connected to the death of a 15-year-old Dublin teenager last month. 

Laughing gas has already been banned in a number of countries in Europe. 

According to TalktoFrank, a website which provides information about drugs, inhaling nitrous oxide directly from a canister is very dangerous because the gas is under such high pressure. It can cause a spasm of the throat muscle and cause the user to stop breathing. 

Janet Robinson, the research and training officer for the Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force, described how there has been an increased use of nitrous oxide over the last two years.

She added that the current pandemic has resulted in a “cannabis drought” which has led to teenagers drinking more. The availability of this drug, mixed with an increase in drinking and children not attending school due to Covid, has created a dangerous dynamic.

She told TheJournal.ie: “What I have been told is that it can be bought in local shops. I think [the issue] you have here is the availability of this. They are easy to get. It does appear to be increasing in use.

“You now have a lot of young people who are out of school. You have the mix of easy access and a higher number of children around.”

Mark Ward, Sinn Féín TD in Dublin Mid-West said he had been alerted by local litter wardens about an upsurge in the number of gas canisters discovered in the local area, especially the Shancastle area of Clondalkin. 

Posting on social media earlier this week, he said: “The litter warden sent me these photographs after I asked for the illegal dumping at the end of Shancastle Drive to be removed.

“Whilst the level of dumping is disgusting what concerns me more are the “silver bullets” These are nitrous oxide more commonly known as laughing gas and can be fatal as we have seen recently in Tallaght.”

Areas in Dublin beaches, as well as the Curragh in Kildare, were littered with the debris as well. 

Alex Ryan (15) died after inhaling the gas last month. A video message from his father, Mick Morrissey was shared by local newspaper The Echo.

Holding up one of the bottles, he said: “Unfortunately my son passed away from taking one of these.

“I’d like for everybody in the area, the whole of the country and the whole of the world to be able to recognise these things. These things are dangerous.

“Children are able to buy these things on the street for €1 or €2 a-go and unfortunately my son was one of the ones that didn’t survive.”

The HSE warned at the start of this year that use of this drug was on the rise and it was being purchased online. 

The HSE warned that when the gas is inhaled, it has the potential to displace air in the lungs and can stop oxygen entering the blood flow.

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    Mute Sat Singh
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:26 AM

    The last one is the new library on Broad Street Birmingham City Centre.

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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:34 AM

    You can see the parts of the world where the most ambitious building projects are happening today are not Europe or the US. Obviously connected to economics, but also national self confidence?

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    Mute Darragh mc kenna
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:15 AM

    Scandinavia still has a few ambitious building projects.

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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Maybe one/two but bulk seem to be Australasia and emerging economies

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    Mute E=MC2
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Is there a single modern Irish building worthy of a postcard? The only structure that comes to mind is the Harp Bridge in Dublin. The proposed new Liberty Hall / ESB head office must tie for joint last place on any awards list.

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    Mute Michael Church
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:31 AM

    The criminal courts on Parkgate street is a pretty class building.

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    Mute Stephen
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:38 AM

    The new Dun Laoghaire library

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:48 AM

    The new Dun Laoghaire library is not original….

    …. it is a copy oft the Norwegian Doomsday seed vault.

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/photogalleries/seedvault-pictures/

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    Mute Philip
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:53 AM

    Music and Dance building in UL Limerick!

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:03 AM

    The Irish lights HQ in Dun Laoghaire looks great.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:27 AM

    My vote would go the Hong Kong, The UK space building looks like total shite.

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:51 AM

    Would our enlightened planners allow any of these to be built? Did I just enlightened and planner, bit of an oxymoron!

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    Mute ken walsh
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:17 AM

    The National Lifeguard Training Centre in Tramore will be class when finished.

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:22 AM

    Why does RTE stay quiet on the Library building in Dun Laghoire. ?? Nothing reported.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Sep 7th 2014, 12:49 PM

    The first building is breath taking.

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    Mute Kissmyartichoke
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    Sep 7th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Wow there must be money in Buddhism, fab building

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    Mute Martin Meyler
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    Sep 7th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Seriously…check out the Mexican house…looks a bit Frank Lloyd Wright…there’s a figure of a girl beside the road on the left, in exactly the same position as Christine Olsen in ‘Christina’s World’ by Andrew Wyeth. Might even be photoshopped in, I suppose.

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