The district council is asking parents in Chorleywood to check their children’s school bags and purchases for canisters of nitrous oxide.
Small silver canisters of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas is dispensed into balloons for inhalation.
Once they’re finished with the canisters are normally littered across the floor on street pavements and in parks, like pictured above which were found by Chorleywood Parish Council.
Legislation introduced in 2016 made it illegal to sell the gas for psychoactive purposes.
Whilst nitrous oxide is rarely directly fatal, it can lead to associated deaths, either from suffocation, or through risky behaviour.
The gas can also cause severe headaches, dizziness, fainting and short-lived but intense feelings of paranoia.
Use often leads to antisocial behaviour, which is disruptive and can be frightening to other residents.
Three Rivers remains committed to reducing and preventing anti-social behaviour across the district, whether it results directly from drug use or from the litter left behind by users.
Cllr Roger Seabourne, lead member of community safety and partnerships, said: “People need to be aware of the risks involved with the use of Nitrous Oxide which are certainly no laughing matter. There are serious physical and psychological effects as there are with the abuse of any substance.
“I would ask parents to watch out for their children buying these canisters, often through online sites, and look out for the signs of use. More information about drugs, and the symptoms and side effects of their use can be found online at talktofrank.com”.
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