A dad whose son died after inhaling nitrous oxide has slammed the Government for not doing enough to stop youngsters getting their hands on the potentially lethal gas.
Mick Morrissey warned youngsters of the dangers of inhaling ‘silver bullets’ following the tragic death of his 15-year-old son Alex on May 20, 2020. Alex, from Tallaght, South Dublin, was found slumped over a wall and tragically died from “toxic poisoning” having earlier taken nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide is commonly known as laughing gas, silver or purple bullets and ‘hippy crack’ and can be bought for as little as €2. Mick said promises made to him by the Department of Health following his son’s death now seem to have been sidelined.
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He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “The government is never going to do anything about these things. I’m sick to the teeth with it now. There’s a green in front of my house and the youngsters sit there doing them (canisters) and haven’t a care in the world.
“I was told there would be something done to stop kids from getting their hands on nitrous oxide, but nothing has been done. They said there would be a law brought in so that canisters could not be sold to someone living at a residential address, only to proper companies who use them.
“If that is the case then how come kids can still get their hands on them so easily? Nothing has been done. I will only believe something is actually happening when I see it with my own two eyes.”
Devastated Mick - who wants nitrous oxide criminalised in Ireland - said it is still easily available and he has seen it advertised for sale online. He added: “I see adverts for the canisters on social media every day, people selling the things.
“I would like to meet with the Minister for Health and find out exactly what they are going to do to stop kids getting their hands on these things.. but it will probably never happen. My poor son is in a graveyard... and to me it just seems that the government doesn’t give a s**t.”
Mick said the family is still struggling to come to terms with Alex no longer being with them. He said: “Alex always had a big smile on his face. He was one of the happiest kids ever.
“He absolutely loved Shamrock Rovers and his PlayStation. He only went to get his hair cut that day and never came home.
“Alex’s poor mother Aine is heartbroken over what happened to him and so are his brothers and sisters. I just hope this gets the message out and that no other family has to live through the nightmare that we are still living.”
A spokesman for the Department of Justice confirmed it is an offence to sell nitrous oxide for human consumption under the Psychoactive Substances Act. He said the HSE and Gardai are aware of the issues surrounding it and it falls under the definition of a “psychoactive substance and a solvent”.
He added: “Nitrous oxide has various legitimate uses; medical, non-medical and industrial and, because of its legitimate uses, it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts or under the International Drug Conventions.”
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
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