A primary school governor has spoken of the risk posed to children by littered drug paraheniela, following weeks of government discussion of drug use among juveniles. 

Sarah Rose, the chair of the board of governors at Skerne Park Academy, has documented "bags and bags" of drug paraphernalia dumped along the school run.

However, she said she is determined for the challenge to bring the community together, organising litter picks to rid the area of nitrous oxide canisters and used needles. 

She told The Northern Echo: "In the last year we have seen a massive uptick in drug use in the area. In the last year, we have seen more rubbish from prescription medication, used needles, and silver canisters.

"Some people say that  drug use is just the way it is, but you have to take a stand against it."

It comes as it emerged the sale and use of laughing gas could be banned under tougher plans being considered by ministers.

The Home Office said ministers are “actively considering” a wider ban. It is used medically as an anaesthetic – given, for instance, to women in labour – and is also used to create whipped cream in kitchens, so any ban would need to be carefully drafted.

Darlington's politicians have already been vocal on the nitrous oxide issues that the town is facing. 

This week, MP Peter Gibson sent a letter to the House of Commons, as well as big social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, urging those in power to take steps to safeguard youngsters. 

Read more: Darlington MP calls out social media apps promoting drug use

Statistics about drug use in the UK paint a shocking picture of teenage recreation - 2.4 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 years and 8.7 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds are said to have used nitrous oxide, equivalent to around 796,000 and 549,000 individuals respectively.

This means that it is the second most prevalent drug in young adults (16 to 24-years-old), second only to cannabis.

In his letter, Mr Gibson wrote: "Alongside the health impact, there are also a number of concerns regarding anti-social behaviour associated with the drug’s use, the disturbance caused by those using the drug in public, littering of empty canisters on the street and the impact on the climate, with nitrous oxide being more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide and is steadily increasing in the atmosphere."

The MP said he welcomes the newly revealed plans to tackle nitrous oxide usage, deeming it necessary to tackle abuse. 

Read more: Durham councillors call for controls on nitrous oxide - also known as 'hippy crack'

"I welcome news that the Government will consider legislation to ban the sale of nitrous oxide," he said.

"This new phenomenon on our streets is a danger to the people abusing this substance. More must be done to restrict its sale and to raise awareness of the dangers of its abuse."

Not everyone was as pleased with the reported plans, though.

Lola McEvoy, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Darlington said: "This is just a sticking plaster on the issue of anti-social behaviour in Darlington and places like it all around the country. 

"People in our communities just don't feel safe right now, and that's because of 13 years of Tory mismanagement, cutting the numbers of police on the streets. All this does is put people at risk and deny victims justice."

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