Nitrous oxide. laughing gas, is the second most commonly used drug among 16 to 24-year-olds in England after cannabis. The Government has announced that will be outlawed by the end of the year and categorised as a class C drug. Additionally, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary has said that police patrols will increase and be pro-active in hotspot areas where punishments can be given out more quickly.

The forthcoming categorisation of the substance means users could face two years in prison and sellers up to 14 year.

The effects of Nitrous Oxide is a depressant-type drug, which means it slows down your brain and your body’s responses, unconsciousness or death from lack of oxygen. Users can suffer from a range of problems, from loss of mobility to mental health issues and sexual dysfunction. There has been a reported spike in hospital admissions caused by people using the party drug.

In a statement, Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced , ‘The British people are fed up with yobs abusing drugs in public spaces and leaving behind a disgraceful mess for others to clean up.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister and I promised a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and that is what we are delivering. If you are caught using ‘laughing gas’ as a drug, you could be hit with a hefty fine or face jail time.’