Drivers huffing laughing gas from balloons is a “massive problem” in parts of Bradford – and the drug is not only used by young men.
During a discussion on road safety in the district, Cllrs raised the growing problem on Nitrous Oxide abuse. One said car parks in the city have become “hot spots” for people who park up and use balloons to inhale the drug.
And abuse of the drug is becoming popular with young women too, the meeting heard.
Bradford Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee received an update on road safety and casualty figures at its most recent meeting, where members were told that although accident figures were down slightly, the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on Bradford’s roads were up.
 Cllr Sirferaz Saddiq (Bradford Independent, Great Horton) said a number of fatal car crashes in recent years have involved drivers inhaling Nitrous Oxide. He added: “Are we doing anything about that? It is a massive problem in my area.” Chair of the committee Cllr Nazam Azam (Lab, City) pointed out it was illegal to possess Nitrous Oxide. Nicholas Haigh, Inspector for Partnerships and Neighbourhood Support at West Yorkshire Police, said the issue was made more complicated because while it was illegal to possess or distribute Nitrous Dioxide to inhale, it was legal to possess it for some purposes, such as catering. Cllr Azam said: “I could take you to two or three car parks an evening and you would see it openly used. I know there are a lot of pressures on police, but I was told that when it was made illegal it would be clamped down on, but it hasn’t.”  Cllr Kamran Hussain, Executive for Safer Communities, said Bradford’s Alcohol and Drugs Partnership was working “extremely hard” on the issue of laughing gas, adding: “We are letting people know the effect it is having on their health. We’re telling young people the harm it can do them.” Insp Haigh said: “This is a priority for us.” Cllr Azam said: “It is not only young men using these balloons, it is across the board. I often see young women driving with balloons.” Cllr Fozia Shaheen (Labour, Toller) said: “With Nitrous Oxide, we’ve tried to do community work on it. We’ve spoken to parents and grandparents, and they don’t have a clue what it is. “We talk about educating young people on the problem, but maybe we need to talk about it a bit wider.” |
