Calls to strictly regulate nitrous oxide as report shows how easy it is to buy online
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Calls to strictly regulate nitrous oxide have been made after it was revealed that it is readily available to minors online in Ireland.
Dublin TD Mark Ward is calling for the "laughing gas" to be strictly regulated in Ireland due to the online sale of it alongside balloons on sites such as Amazon and Adverts. There are even recommendations on the sites that they are frequently bought together.
A report by The Journal showed that there have been several deaths in Europe - including Ireland - due to misuse of nitrous oxide. As previously reported by Dublin Live, a 16-year-old boy lost the feeling in his limbs and became unable to walk after using the drug for four years.
Sinn Fein TD Ward said: 'What is most shocking is that on the Amazon website, it recommended the purchase of balloons as 'frequently bought together' with nitrous oxide canisters. I have been raising the need to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide for a long time and I have produced legislation that would do just that.
'Nitrous oxide does have medical and catering uses which is why my bill would restrict its sale just to those industries that have legitimate use of the product. This would help prevent the misuse of the substance, particularly by minors. We have seen nitrous oxide being targeted to young people with its advertising and flavours.
'We know that there are health effects, both physical and mental, that can be caused by the misuse of the nitrous oxide. We have heard of people presenting with frostbite and neurological damage to medical professionals, following the use of nitrous oxide. The Journal have also attributed several deaths in Europe, including Ireland to the misuse of Nitrous Oxide.
'This requires action and the fact that is so readily available online should highlight the urgency to regulate its sale. I am calling on the government to take action on this. If they won't my bill is ready to go to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide.'
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Health food supplement sold online recalled due to presence of Salmonella
A popular health food supplement sold online is being recalled due to the presence of Salmonella. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland warned consumers that all batches and best before dates of Orgenism Eggshell Membrane Capsules that are sold on Amazon are being recalled due to the presence of Salmonella. Eggshell membrane capsules are health food supplements made from the thin layer found between the eggshell and egg white that reduce joint pain and stiffness and improve joint flexibility. The FSAI has now issued a recall for Orgenism Eggshell Membrane Capsules; pack size: 60 capsules, 500 mg per serving with all batch codes and all best before dates due to the presence of Salmonella. People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between six and 72 hours. The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody. Other symptoms may include fever, headache and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers. Caterers should not use the implicated batches and consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Dublin Live
a day ago
- Dublin Live
Calls to strictly regulate nitrous oxide as report shows how easy it is to buy online
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Calls to strictly regulate nitrous oxide have been made after it was revealed that it is readily available to minors online in Ireland. Dublin TD Mark Ward is calling for the "laughing gas" to be strictly regulated in Ireland due to the online sale of it alongside balloons on sites such as Amazon and Adverts. There are even recommendations on the sites that they are frequently bought together. A report by The Journal showed that there have been several deaths in Europe - including Ireland - due to misuse of nitrous oxide. As previously reported by Dublin Live, a 16-year-old boy lost the feeling in his limbs and became unable to walk after using the drug for four years. Sinn Fein TD Ward said: 'What is most shocking is that on the Amazon website, it recommended the purchase of balloons as 'frequently bought together' with nitrous oxide canisters. I have been raising the need to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide for a long time and I have produced legislation that would do just that. 'Nitrous oxide does have medical and catering uses which is why my bill would restrict its sale just to those industries that have legitimate use of the product. This would help prevent the misuse of the substance, particularly by minors. We have seen nitrous oxide being targeted to young people with its advertising and flavours. 'We know that there are health effects, both physical and mental, that can be caused by the misuse of the nitrous oxide. We have heard of people presenting with frostbite and neurological damage to medical professionals, following the use of nitrous oxide. The Journal have also attributed several deaths in Europe, including Ireland to the misuse of Nitrous Oxide. 'This requires action and the fact that is so readily available online should highlight the urgency to regulate its sale. I am calling on the government to take action on this. If they won't my bill is ready to go to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Nitrous oxide canisters littering streets and parks 'sparking curiosity' in children
LARGE CYLINDRICAL CANISTERS have become a common sight littering many public areas in recent years. But what actually are they? These canisters were once filled with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, used by teens and young people for short highs. But for young children, these bright colourful tubes are 'sparking curiosity'. Experts told The Journal Investigates that this leads to kids picking them up and checking to see if there is any gas inside. They frequently litter our streets and public parks. This creates 'a kind of permissive attitude around nitrous oxide', according to Trevor Bissett, a coordinator with the Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force. Advertisement 'They're everywhere,' he told us. 'The larger canisters have become a big issue in the area in terms of the litter and [the] visibility of them as well.' Children as young as 12 are picking them up to check if there is any gas left, according to reports received by the Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force. For those who use it, the drug can have devastating consequences. Inhaling gas straight from the canister can lead to devastating frostbite burns, which is why balloons are typically used for transferring the gas. Nitrous oxide use can also lead to paralysis and suffocation, health experts told us. Mark Ward TD said that discarded nitrous oxide canisters are a massive problem. Mark Ward TD Mark Ward TD Investigations like this don't happen without your support… Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Support The Journal Investigates Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward said that ease of access and popularity with young people is contributing to the litter problem: Related Reads 'Devastating' nitrous oxide available to buy on popular Irish websites 'Walk to any housing state or any public park in Dublin, and you will see discarded nitrous oxide canisters lying around the place…this is an issue in Cork. It's an issue in Limerick [and] right across the state.' Our health service is feeling the impact of this. Last year, a HSE report found that nitrous oxide ranked third on the reported substance use from teenagers referred to the service, behind alcohol and cannabis. But Ward said that this is 'only the tip of the iceberg'. He added: 'Most of the problematic use goes unnoticed and people don't present for help.' Don't throw canisters in the bin Discarding these canisters properly, particularly the larger ones, can be difficult. Last year, Revenue put out a tender to dispose of the huge number of canisters – over 480,000 since 2020 – it has seized due to suspected illegitimate use. It contracted a waste management company to 'carry out the transport, storage, and disposal of seized nitrous oxide canisters', a Revenue spokesperson told us. Ward also said that these canisters can cause damage to machines when being processed through the domestic waste system. Sign up The Journal Investigates is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. Our newsletter gives you an inside look at how we do this. Sign up here... Sign up .spinner{transform-origin:center;animation:spinner .75s infinite linear}@keyframes spinner{100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}} You are now signed up So, what should you do if you find one on the street? Don't throw it in the bin. Instead, Ward advises, people can dispose of them at local recycling centres, or by contacting their local authority to remove them. Earlier today, The Journal Investigates revealed how these large canisters of nitrous oxide could be bought by Irish shoppers on popular online sites, which is likely contributing to this problem. Our investigative team found it for sale on Amazon and classified ads sites, showcasing just how easy it can be for anyone, including children, to obtain it. The Journal Investigates Reporter: Conor O'Carroll • Editor: Maria Delaney • Social Media: Cliodhna Travers • Main Image Design: Lorcan O'Reilly Investigations like this don't happen without your support... Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Over 5,000 readers have already supported our mission with a monthly or one-off payment. Join them here: Support The Journal
