Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 2 October 2025

Committee on Drugs Use

Community Supports: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Jim Doherty:

May I say something? I was asked to raise the issue of nitrous oxide, which is very serious. It is legal to supply and sell it and it is causing great harm in communities. You have only to walk around any community to see canisters everywhere. It is being widely abused, particularly by young people, many of whom drive under its influence. That seems to be part of the use pattern. This needs to be considered seriously by both the Departments of health and justice as a matter of priority.