29 January 2023 , 16:10
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Retailers are flogging deadly nitrous oxide to kids just days after the Government announced plans to ban it.
The dangerous drug, nicknamed hippy crack, is still widely available online and in shops, a Sunday People investigation found.
Nitrous oxide has been linked to at least 36 deaths – and one hospital consultant says it is more dangerous than Class A drug cocaine.
The laughing gas, which is released from canisters into a balloon and then inhaled to produce a feeling of euphoria, is only illegal if sold “recklessly” or to anyone under 18.
But our reporter easily found the gas for sale on Amazon, eBay and a string of catering shops. We ordered from six sites in total, with only one supplier on eBay doing an ID check.
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Sunday People reporter Saskia Rowlands with nitrous oxide canisters ordered online (Stephen Waller)Some had age warnings, but a simple tick-box allowed us to buy.
All six parcels were sent via next-day delivery and arrived with no questions asked.
One package even came with a bag of complementary kiddies’ sweets.
A box of ten canisters typically sets shoppers back between £6 and £12, with discounts on larger orders.
We also picked up canisters at a corner shop in Lozells, Birmingham, without any age checks.
Laughing gas has been described as more dangerous than some Class A drugs (PA)The store assistant produced a box from under the counter and charged us £15 for 24 canisters.
Police in Hertfordshire last week sent written warnings to newsagents suspected of selling the drug.
Nitrous oxide, which is used legitimately as a medical anaesthetic and as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers, was inhaled by more than 500,000 youngsters in 2019-20, says the Government. It is the second most used drug by 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK.
Alex Littler nearly died after consuming nitrous oxide at a festival (Alex Littler)If new laws are approved, people found with canisters without legitimate reason will face prosecution.
But victims’ families say the Government’s response is too slow.
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Cathy McCann, whose son Alex, 16, nearly died after inhaling nitrous oxide at Manchester’s Park-life festival last summer, said she feels frustrated.
The box came with free sweets (Stephen Waller)Cathy, 45, of Chester, said: “My son was very, very lucky, and it’s really upsetting to learn that young people can still buy it. Something has to be done about this.”
She said Alex was a fit and healthy teen. “He was a really good football player and hoped to build a career in the sport but the nitrous oxide caused him a ruptured lung and he’s now suffering chronic migraines,” she added.
Mum Cathy McCann says the government ban on 'hippy crack' can't come soon enough (Alex Littler)
Alex Littler, then 16, suffered a ruptured lung (Alex Littler)Alex’s ordeal came two months before the death of Kayleigh Burns, 17, who collapsed moments after inhaling the gas in August.
The teenager, from Merseyside, was rushed to hospital but died later that day.
David Nicholl, a Birmingham consultant neurologist who treats several patients every week for severe nerve damage from sniffing nitrous oxide, said it is more dangerous than cocaine.
Police minister Chris Philp is reportedly pushing for a review into the gas by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to be fast-tracked to April.
A brand of nitrous oxide available from shops (Roland Leon)A ban could be part of the Government’s antisocial behaviour strategy due this year. The Home Office said: “We are actively considering a ban on the sale and use of this harmful drug and will ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to hasten their delivery of the report we commissioned.”
Amazon said: “Our selling guidelines make clear that these items are only allowed to be sold in our store if they are intended for food preparation, but unfortunately, like many products, it can be misused. We have a number of measures to prevent abuse.”
Pronto Direct and Cream Chargers were contacted for a comment.