I am extremely concerned about the amount of nitrous oxide canisters I have seen littered across the constituency.
Following lockdown there was an increasing prevalence of nitrous oxide use in Oldham, particularly among young people. I am very concerned that this has not curtailed, and we need to raise awareness of the risks associated with laughing gas to both protect our young people and our wider community.
Potential harms include nerve and spinal cord damage, as well as associated long term red blood cell problems that result in anaemia. Misuse of nitrous oxide can have very serious implications that we can’t be naïve to.
In the past I have rallied Oldham Council in its capacity of overseeing public health, and Greater Manchester Police to raise greater awareness with young people and their parents. However – it is clear there is more work to be done and we must go further.
Our young people need to understand the full risks of laughing gas and we must stop its persistent use in Oldham. I will continue to raise awareness about the dangers of nitrous oxide and push for stronger action from our local authorities.
It’s time to protect our young people and tackle this growing problem head-on.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 