Melanie Barker*, 48, from Cheshire, had never heard of nitrous oxide and the harm it can cause until her son Ben*, now 25, became addicted. She's worried about the new law.
She says, “Ben was a very bright child, doing well in his GSCEs and going on to do an engineering apprenticeship. He had lots of friends and played good-level local football. Then, when he was 17,1 found some silver canisters in his pocket. I had no idea what they were, so I Googled them and found out about nitrous oxide. I was concerned and spoke to Ben about it. He told me they were a bit of harmless fun, but we didn't realise it was the start of an addiction.
“He moved out at 19, but soon lost weight,…
