Laughing gas is #NoLaughingMatter

A new campaign has started across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse to highlight the issues and dangers of Nitrous Oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas.

The campaign will see #NoLaughingMatter stencils painted across the districts and there will also be a short online quiz, with a £25 Nando’s or Costa voucher up for grabs.

Most will have seen the small silver canisters discarded in public areas, such as parks and high streets. Filled with Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, they contain the second most used recreational drug among young people in the UK aged 16-24.

Laughing gas is a psychoactive substance – when inhaled it slows down the body’s response time, which can lead to fits of laughter, dizziness and feeling relaxed.  However, it can also cause paranoia, hallucinations, and headaches, and if too much laughing gas is inhaled, the user could suffer shortness of breath or even pass out, potentially putting their life at risk. When discarded in public areas, the cannisters also cause a litter nuisance.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched the #NoLaughingMatter campaign to raise awareness of laughing gas and the risks of using it, and are encouraging residents to report any cannisters they find and to seek advice/support where needed.

#NoLaughingMatter – to find out what you need to know about laughing gas and to enter the competition to win a £25 Nando’s or Costa voucher – visit southandvale.gov.uk/nolaughingmatter

(Terms and Conditions apply – entries close at 11:59pm on Sunday 14 November 2021).

If you see anyone using laughing gas, or notice canisters discarded in a public area, please report it by contacting the Community Safety Team at  or by calling 01235 422590.

For advice and help about laughing gas please Talk to Frank.