Pilot project to tackle misuse of nitrous oxide canisters
A PILOT project to help tackle the widespread and continuing problem of the misuse of nitrous oxide canisters has been agreed by the council.
As reported on extensively by The Echo in recent months, the emergence of nitrous oxide canisters across South Dublin has been a serious cause of concern for those in our communities.
A three month ‘pilot’ project to map the discarded canisters across South Dublin County will be run by the council management in an attempt to reduce and eradicate the substance misuse in our communities.
Also known as silver bullets or ‘hippie crack’, the canisters contain nitrous oxide gas and are typically used in the catering industry or clinically as an anaesthetic for pain-relief – but some young people are inhaling the gas to experience a temporary high.
Cllr Derren O Bradaigh holding some canisters
At a special council meeting this week, Sinn Féin councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh expressed his concern regarding these canisters which have been frequently found discarded on public streets, local shops, car parks and green spaces.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh said: “Six months ago, I raised this matter, having at the time welcomed the news that the HSE had included information about the misuse and dangers of nitrous oxide on Drugs.ie, however as I said then, this simply does not go far enough.
“We need to better understand where and why this substance is being misused and set in motion a programme that seeks to seriously get to grips with this problem.
“At Tuesday’s Special Council meeting to hear a number of motions, I was encouraged that the Council management will now ‘pilot’ a three-month project to map discarded drug litter across the county.”
In addition to the pilot project, it was agreed at the meeting to write to the Minster for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, to urge Government to initiate a National Awareness campaign.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh added that the campaign should begin in schools and through youth outreach and community groups as well as sports clubs.
“I believe that with the right motivation and targeted strategy, we can begin to meaningfully address drug and substance abuse and help bring down incidences of anti-social related problems in doing so – however this requires collaborative will that involves listening more to our young people too,” said cllr Ó Brádaigh.
