Southend West MP Anna Firth welcomes ban on 'Laughing Gas'

Southend West MP, Anna Firth, has welcomed the introduction of a new law that bans the recreational use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

The move follows a year-long campaign led by Firth, who has been pushing for action on the misuse of the substance in her constituency.

Ms Firth, shared her perspective on the issue, "This is a campaign which I've been leading now for the last year since pretty much since becoming an MP for South End."

"We had a day in South End last July when literally hundreds and hundreds of youths descended on the seafront, all using balloons and canisters. And yeah, there were too many canisters for the police to even collect because these have to be collected and disposed of separately from general litter."

Ms. Firth emphasized the profound impact of nitrous oxide misuse on the community, saying, "It's a menace. It really puts families off coming to the seafront to see young people off their heads on laughing gas." She also highlighted the growing health implications, revealing, "The Office for National Statistics tell you that in the last decade for which we've got stats, 45 people died from using nitrous oxide. But in the decade before that, it was only around 10. So it's increased fourfold in two decades, and one in 10 young people between 16 and 24 are using nitrous oxide."

She also revealed the profound impact this kind of substance misuse has had on the local community: "We've had a really sad case in South End, where a young person became completely addicted. It started as a bit of fun. It started as just doing one or two balloons like everybody else, a temporary high, but you know, he got completely addicted to the stuff. Started getting neurological symptoms, pins and needles, shooting pains, couldn't walk. Came off it temporarily, couldn't stay off it, went back on it, and now he's paralyzed."

Her campaign for action gained momentum when she met with the Home Secretary, as she described, "I had a meeting with her in her office in the Home Office and I said, 'This is a wide-scale problem, but this is having real health implications for young people, and it's on the rise.'"

The government has fully backed Firth's campaign, and as of today nitrous oxide will be banned for recreational use. She urged the public to take the ban seriously, stating, "Go out, have fun, enjoy yourself. But from tomorrow, don't take nitrous oxide canisters and cylinders with you. Because if so, you could find out you're going to end up with more than just a wrap on the knuckles."

According to Ms Firth, the response from local businesses and concerned parents has been overwhelmingly positive: "So I went to see the police last Friday to talk about this, and they are absolutely delighted that they've got the powers now to keep young people safer and to keep families safer on our seafront."

She also acknowledged the need to balance enforcement with education, especially for young people. "It's one thing to take it off young people when they're on the seafront; it's a much better thing to educate them not to take it out at all. So, it's a work in progress, but we will absolutely be on that education piece."

KEY FACTS

From November 8, 2023, possession of nitrous oxide, or 'laughing gas,' is illegal in the UK.

• Penalties: Repeat serious users may face up to two years in prison, while dealers could receive up to 14 years.
• Legislation: The ban is part of the government's Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, categorizing nitrous oxide as a Class C controlled drug.
• Offence: Possessing nitrous oxide with intent for psychoactive use is now a criminal offense.
• Legislation: The ban is part of the government's Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, categorizing nitrous oxide as a Class C controlled drug.
• Consequences: Offenders risk fines, community punishments, cautions on their criminal records, and imprisonment for repeat serious offenses.
• Health Risks: Misusing nitrous oxide can lead to health issues such as anaemia, nerve damage, paralysis, and has been linked to drug driving incidents.
• Legal Uses: Valid applications for nitrous oxide include healthcare, catering, industry, dentistry, and model rocketry.
• No Licensing: While no licenses are needed, users must demonstrate lawful possession and no intent to misuse.
• Maximum Sentence: The maximum sentence for illegal production, supply, import, or export of nitrous oxide has doubled to 14 years.

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