AN AREA of Chepstow has become a haven for young people who want to buy and inhale nitrous oxide, according to a local town councillor.

Cllr Armand Watts (Thornwell) collected dozens of discarded gas canisters and balloons from a hedgerow during a weekend litter pick.

The most common way of misusing nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’, is to breathe it from balloons filled with the gas.

Cllr Watts believes the gas canisters are being supplied by dealers who arrive in the area by car.

“I first got wind of this about 18 months ago,” he said. “It’s really depressing and we just don’t want it.”

Cllr Watts said he was seeking reassurances the police were trying to combat the problem.

Nitrous oxide is not in itself illegal – the gas has many legitimate uses, including in medicine and dentistry.

However, the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 makes it an offence to produce or supply the gas if it is going to be misused.

In a statement from Gwent Police, Sergeant Nigel Callard said: “We are aware of these reports, and are treating them seriously. Officers continue to regularly patrol the areas concerned, and have been working with Trading Standards colleagues to address the sale of nitrous oxide to young people.

“This is a gas with several legitimate uses, and although it can make some people feel euphoric and relaxed when inhaled, it can also cause some people to experience hallucinations, dizziness and difficulty in thinking straight. Worryingly, the consequences could even prove fatal due to a lack of oxygen.

“Young people may think it’s just a bit of fun but it can be hard to judge the amount to use safely, and too much can lead to fainting, having an accident or much worse. Our message is clear – please make sure you stay away from inhaling these substances.”

Substance misuse charity Re-Solv is concerned that the increasing popularity of using nitrous oxide – the most recent statistics suggest the gas was second only to cannabis in a list of the most commonly misused substances for people aged 16-24 – could push people towards trying to inhale more dangerous gases.

“Our particular concern is that the increased normalisation of inhaling a gas to achieve intoxication may lead young people to try inhaling butane, a much more dangerous gas responsible for over 500 UK deaths since 2000,” the charity said in a statement.

In comparison, figures from the Office of National Statistics show there were 36 nitrous oxide-related deaths in England and Wales, 2001-2016.

Re-Solv said many of those deaths were associated with inhaling the gas via methods other than balloons, which had a higher risk of asphyxiation.

For more information about harm reduction for gases and other misused substances, visit Re-Solv’s website, www.re-solv.org