‘Super-sized’ silver bullet canisters found in parks
A LOCAL councillor has claimed the issue with the use of nitrous oxide canisters has escalated to the point where “super-sized” canisters are being used and then dumped in local parks, and he added that he would support “an outright ban” on the sale of nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide canisters are colloquially known as ‘silver bullets’, and the small empty canisters have become a regular sight in many local parks in recent years.
However, according to Sinn Féin councillor for Palmerstown, Derren Ó Brádaigh, the use of “super-sized” canisters displays an escalation in issues with the misuse of nitrous oxide.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh said: “The problem, in my view, has escalated beyond the smaller ‘silver bullets’ with commercial or ‘super-sized’ canisters now being purchased and discarded in public parks, hedgerows and shopping centre car parks across the community.
“The larger canisters equate in volume to that of 50 of the smaller silver cartridges. “In areas with high volumes of drug litter, it would also be helpful, in my view, to identify the user groups and how local services can engage to provide education, harm reduction and on-going support.”
The canisters that contain nitrous oxide gas are typically used in the catering industry or clinically as an anaesthetic for pain-relief – but some young people are misusing them by inhaling the gas to experience a temporary, cheap high.
The HSE first warned young people of the risks associated with misusing nitrous oxide in January 2020 and warned them not to inhale the substance, which is also known as laughing gas and ‘hippy crack’.
Inhaling the gas can have devastating effects, including the potential to displace air in the lungs, and it can cause a drop in oxygen levels which could increase heart rate, or potentially result in sudden death as a result of a lack of oxygen.
Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh
Commenting on the current availability of nitrous oxide, Cllr Ó Brádaigh said: “The general sale of nitrous oxide is prohibited under existing legislation as outlined in the response that I received from the Minister [with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan].
“Therefore, it is increasingly frustrating that finds of discarded canisters are so prevalent around our communities, with misuse more often than not, amongst younger and more vulnerable teenagers.
“Although there has been an awareness campaign of sorts in this regard, it seems clear to me that something is not working, and I would support the outright ban on the sale of this product.”
Cllr Ó Brádaigh added that, following a motion he tabled at a council meeting last year, a pilot project cataloguing all locations where nitrous oxide canisters were removed or reported between August 2021 and August this year is currently being carried out by South Dublin County Council.
“The purpose of this exercise is to identify any trends, highlight any specific problem areas, and to share this information with local task force expert groups, working to better understand and treat users of drug and substance misuse,” he said.
