West Yorkshire Police have reiterated the significant risks associated with laughing gas after canisters were dumped on streets across Leeds.
The small metal canisters, which contain the illegal and psychoactive drug nitrous oxide, are an all-too familiar site in parks and on pavements across the city.
People across Leeds have complained about huge piles of the canisters being left behind after groups have inhaled the drug, with Roundhay, Temple Newsam, Seacroft and Cross Gates just some of the places which have been blighted by the careless littering.
The force says the number of reports of them being left on Leeds' streets is on the rise and officers have warned about the health risks involved.
Laughing gas - also known as 'nox' - is inhaled by users, and can lead to serious side effects, including:
loss of consciousness
possible suffocation
vitamin B12 deficiency (a form of anaemia)
further risks if other drugs or intoxicants are consumed, such as alcohol
West Yorkshire Police have also said that anyone caught supplying the drug could end up serving a maximum seven-year prison sentence. It is even illegal to give a single canister to a friend.
Those caught driving while under the influence of nitrous oxide could also be charged with drug driving offences.
Laughing gas has risen in popularity in recent years and is a commonly used recreational drug across Yorkshire, particularly with teenagers.
South Yorkshire Police have also highlighted the "unpredictable" nature of the drug and told users that it can potentially be fatal.
