Ireland should follow the example of the Netherlands and ban laughing gas for recreational use, Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has said.
It comes after the EU drugs agency expressed concern at the increasing growth in the supply and recreational use of laughing gas by Irish young people.
Research from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction shows almost one in four Irish people said they had used the gas – otherwise known as nitrous oxide – at some stage in their lives with 3.7% claiming they had taken it in the previous 12 months.
Read More: Laughing gas poisoning on the rise in Ireland
Usage levels are even higher among those aged 18-24 years at 5.5%.
While nitrous oxide is not a controlled substance in Ireland under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, it is illegal to sell its for its psychoactive properties.
Ms Higgins said Ireland should follow the Netherlands’ lead and ban laughing gas for recreational use.
She said: “From January 2023 in the Netherlands, the sale, import, or possession of laughing gas will be banned with a couple of exceptions such as food production or legitimate medical use.
“I think a ban is something we also need to start looking at here in Ireland to address the growing use of laughing gas among Irish young people and the potential damage it can do.
“I often get complaints from constituents about the littering of these tiny silver cannisters around local streets and parks. More recently, the smaller cannisters have been replaced with large laughing gas cylinders which are now littering the streets as well.
“While litter is a legitimate concern, beyond that, there can also be a very sinister side to the use of laughing gas.”
She added: “The cheap and widespread availability of these tiny cannisters of nitrous oxide is also a massive factor in their popularity because buying them online or through social media channels is so easy now.
“But suppliers are specifically catering for recreational use by selling these larger cylinders users which is really concerning.
“The Gardaí have reported that they are seeing an increase in the use of laughing gas so it it’s only a matter of time before we see a marked increase in young people. We need to investigate banning it just as the government in the Netherlands have done.
“We need to get ahead of this before it becomes an even bigger problem.”
The Dutch government is banning the use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, from January amid concerns over the health risks for the growing number of young people using it.
However, the authorities say it can still be used for medicinal purposes and in the food industry.
The Dutch government also hopes the ban will reduce the number of road traffic accidents involving the drug.
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