Inner city suburb where there are so many laughing gas canisters people are falling over them

Apr 05, 2024

Angry residents say they feel ‘let down’ by authorities in Small Heath

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Fed-up residents in Small Heath have called on authorities to crack down on nitrous oxide abuse after collecting nearly 500 discarded canisters from a park in just over a week. The residents say they feel ‘let down’ by authorities and have called for a coordinated response to tackle the ‘growing’ issue.

The 463 canisters were collected in and around Small Heath Park by local pressure group Small Heath Forum. The party drug - more commonly known as 'laughing gas' - is the second most popular drug among 16-to 24-year-olds - with its popularity booming in recent years.

A recent BirminghamLive investigation uncovered nitrous oxide was being openly sold at city shops and off-licences with no questions asked - a potential criminal offence. Local group Small Heath Forum say they want authorities to ‘take the issue seriously’, saying the drug was 'ruining lives' in their community.

READ MORE: Nitrous oxide shopping spree - this is how easy it was to buy 'hippy crack' in Birmingham

“It’s taken the members of Small Heath Forum just over a week to collect these - there are around 463 of them,” said Gerry Moynihan of Small Heath Forum. “They are from a very small area of Small Heath around the park.

“We want to highlight the prevalence of the use of nitrous oxide in the area and bring the issue to Birmingham City Council and the public health department because this drug is killing people. The litter is just one aspect, the other is the anti-social behaviour - people are taking nitrous oxide while driving cars putting people and children at risk.

“They’re so easily available. There are retail outlets in Small Heath and across the city that you can just walk into at any age and purchase these.”

Earlier this year we reported how a young man from Birmingham was left unable to walk after inhaling nitrous oxide - a drug that 'messed up his life' and turned him into a 'crackhead.' Dr David Nicholl, consultant neurologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, has been campaigning on this issue for several years and has started a petition, urging police to better enforce the Psychoactive Substances Act (2016).

Gerry Moynihan added: “We need a sensible, coordinated response from West Midlands Police, the city council, environmental health, Birmingham Trading Standards and even West Midlands Fire Service, because if these things are being stockpiled in shops and there’s a fire, there’s going to be serious consequences.

“We want them to take this issue seriously because it’s getting worse day by day. These agencies know where nitrous oxide is being sold but in our view they’re not taking any action. They are letting us down.”

Nitrous Oxide is set to be banned under Government plans to clamp down on anti-social behaviour. There will also be tighter controls on retailers to prevent the supply of nitrous oxide for misuse.

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