South Essex MP delight on nitrous oxide added to list of class C drugs

The use of nitrous oxide has plagued Southend seafront and the city centre in recent years, with unsightly grey cannisters littered across streets.

Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, spoke in the House of Commons yesterday to welcome the incorporation of nitrous oxide into the list of Class C drugs.

During her extensive campaign on the issue, Ms Firth met with Home Secretary Suella Braverman to demand change.

Ms Firth began her campaign after claiming it was being used by children as young as 10 years old in the city.

She said: “I am delighted at the new legislation.

“Southend has seen incredibly damaging use of nitrous oxide, and its incorporation into the list of Class C drugs will make a huge difference in limiting the horrible effects of its illegal usage.

“These effects are not just limited to the huge amount of litter that discarded canisters create, which damage our local environment and cover our beaches, but overuse has been linked to anemia, B12 deficiency and even paralysis.

“Additionally, Southend Police reported last year that they had to cut people out of their cars due to unconsciousness caused by usage, and so I welcome it for all of the above reasons.”

The change to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 will see nitrous oxide, which has seen 56 registered deaths associated with its use between 2021 and 2022, added to the list of Class C drugs.

Under the new legislation possession of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” or “Nos”, will carry a sentence of up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine, with up to 14 years for supply and production.

Given its legitimate uses in catering and healthcare, the Government is also running a consultation which will be used by the Government to understand the full range and scale of legitimate uses of nitrous oxide to enable the design of a legal framework that permits it use for legitimate purposes once it becomes a Class C controlled drug.