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Right to get high dilemma (Nitrous oxide)???

Started 1 year ago by Moose
Latest reply from Moose

Moose
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I definitely don’t want to pass moral judgment on those in my community. I believe in freedom of choice etcetera. This is my dilemma… I went into one of our local little convenient stores and while checking out I noticed inside the case with the pipes were “whipits” which is Nitrous Oxide and for culinary use and has been growing in the use for get high. This was clearly the purpose for these. My problem is this store is a block away from a middle school. Unlike tobacco and alcohol there are no restrictions on age. I MOST CERTAINLY don’t want a law to dictate use as they did with decongestants. I feel it takes the pressure of ‘the village’ rather than laws. Am I over reacting? I have talked to the owner and told him that I don’t want to see this sold in my neighborhood with a middle school next door. I have no rights but I wanted to ask you all… should I leave it be or continue the pressure. My next step would be when school starts up to address is with PTSA and the principle…

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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following this up with parent education would be a good thing...

Posted 1 year ago #
Moose
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Sure. I don't have kids... but that might be something the school provides?

Posted 1 year ago #
WSeaFam2
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Doesn't using this type of thing to get a short high damage the brain? Isn't it on the same levels as sniffing glue or spray paint? I recently viewed a short story on one of the 5pm news that said some groups/people are trying to outlaw such things for good reason :(

Posted 1 year ago #
Moose
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Exactly that sort of high. It kills brain cells. It is used for baking and that's great. I don't believe in outlawing it so much as keeping it out of stores such as these. If you use it to bake - you know you can get it at the specialty stores. If you outlaw these... where does it end? But that's a different issue. I just don't like it advertised as a high which they are obviously doing. They should put clue and spay cans in the display too. Ug. what to do... Pressure them to take it off the shelf?

Posted 1 year ago #
lazybeard
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What kind of education are students taught in the classroom today? When I was growing up, the local police department would come around with the infamous display box with various drugs do a show and tell about them. I don't recall (ha-ha) if they ever touched on NO2.

Having done NO2, I don't think it's appropriate at all to have it in the vicinity you describe. When some friends and I would purchase it, we would just buy it in the whipped cream canisters but we would be semi-sly about the purchasing of it from the local grocery store.

Posted 1 year ago #
cjboffoli
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Most of these pressurized metal charges for culinary use have moved to harmless CO2 which is what I thought these might be until you specified that they were inside the case next to the pipes.

There are many readily available off-the-shelf items that can be used inappropriately for huffing, including: adhesives, computer duster, gasoline and about half of the items in the paint aisle at the hardware store.

I agree that parental diligence and youth education should be the front lines on this issue, followed by discretion on the part of store clerks. Even water can be lethal if you consume too much of it. But whether it is effective to pressure on local shop owners or encourage legislators to ban products that can misused for a high is debatable.

Posted 1 year ago #
westseattledood
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Hey Moose -

When I've attended some of the Crime Prevention Council meetings, this kind of thing has been discussed not as a theoretical abstraction, but as a real problem which was discussed by SPD leadership and school administration leadership. I cannot recall with 100% certainty whether these precise chargers were part of the situation then, but paraphenalia in general being sold at a small independent store mere blocks from a school was. It's the proximity to the No Drugs or Weapons School Zones which I think the city has which is perhaps the most relevant part of this.

Administrators were there to address it with SPD and the CPCouncil. I would bet the conversation continued with the PTSA and student body. But I was not privy to such communications. I do not remember the specific steps that the school admin folks had taken, but there was still a concern at that point because it was the beginning of a new year. As I said, I do not know exactly how anything further down the road was dealt with. BUT, it was a very good place to have the conversation and learn (even if I can't remember every detail at this moment).

So, yeah, if I were you, I would contact the school admin and give them a heads up, but I'd guess they might be well aware already. Also, I would contact SPD non-emergency and I would contact the Crime Prevention Council and ask them to get it on the Agenda for a meeting before the school year starts.

The more people who are aware of this crap being sold the more intervention and education can happen.

Thanks for keeping your eyes peeled and caring enough to bring it up here on the forums where hopefully parents will see it.

Posted 1 year ago #
DOC
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If the store is selling N2O, they know what it is used for. Boycott the store and encourage others too as well. It may not require a law to get rid of the canisters while the free market still has a voice.

Posted 1 year ago #
MargL
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KIRO did a story on this kind of thing 2 years ago...
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17912245/detail.html

While it's not illegal to sell in WA state, apparently, according to the story the manufacturers of the cannisters do have a warning label "Not for sale to under 18".

Really, it's going to be about parental communication and education, as it is with all substances/activites that can be abused.

While we're at it, what about the choking/hanging game?

How many kids have died just cutting off the flow of blood and oxygen to their brain trying to get a rush/high? Quite a few, actually and it's played as a game at slumber parties! Then the kids come home and their parents find them in the closet with a belt tied around their neck, argh!

Communication! Talk to your kids!

Posted 1 year ago #
Moose
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You all are the best!!! Thank you for the education! I have talked with the shop owner (twice now) and even had a customer chime in asking why I was messing with his business. I educated him on the Middle School starting up soon and said I'm just not ok with this. The shop owner said he would NEVER sell to anyone under 18... that made me feel warm and fuzzy. Um not.

That link is perfect... I will use this blog with all your comments to go to the school and SPD. I am also going to print it out and give it to the shop owner (I will remove all user names).

I agree it is about parental communication. Having had my niece living with us while she attended high school - I found out firsthand how little parents communicate with kids HOWEVER the school can. It's through one of those neglected kids I fear that will introduce this crap into the schools. I understand I can't stop it but maybe(we)can voice our intolerance to these shops that are located close to schools. (I didn't even notice if they had those "cracker" things they were talking about in the news link. I wouldn't have known what one was but now I do...)

Should I name the store after I have made it clear I was blogging this about his shop?

Posted 1 year ago #
Carson
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Well, the rule is you need to address the Rant with the store so they are not blindsided. It seems you have, so take the gloves off! It sounds like the kind of store we might all want to avoid as is.

Posted 1 year ago #
Gina
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Or you can say what the nearest middle school is.

Folks will be able to figure out the store from that info.

Posted 1 year ago #
WorldCitizen
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I'd hate to see the police have to get involved. It would be wise for the store owner to just listen to the community they do business in.

Posted 1 year ago #
maplesyrup
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I wish I could visit the store to see what's going on. From the description it's hard to tell whether the store owner understands the dangers and is cooperative or is a scumbag playing lip service to an upset customer.

Posted 1 year ago #
Moose
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Feel free. Would love to get your opinion. I think they are the only stores by the old Chief Sealth High on Delridge and Juneau. One sells whip-its and the other literally sells glue in the pipe display case.

Posted 1 year ago #