Nitrous oxide (nitrogen monoxide) is an odorless gas that is usually sold in nitrous oxide cartridges, whipped cream syringes or in nitrous oxide tanks. It is used by breathing in and out in a balloon filled with nitrous oxide. The effect occurs almost immediately. The consciousness is clouded, the muscles relax and the user feels drunk and high. The drug also has an analgesic effect. For that reason, it is also used in a medical setting. The intoxication lasts about 1 to 5 minutes.
Risks
There is also a danger in this short duration. Because the intoxication lasts so short, users often take several balloons in one evening. However, excessive use of nitrous oxide can lead to paralysis and nerve damage. This is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can happen even with a single use in people who already have a mild B12 deficiency. Users can supplement the B12 deficiency after use, but there is no evidence that taking vitamin B-12 during use helps. There are also known cases where young people suffered serious injuries, such as frostbite injuries and deep wounds. The use of laughing gas in traffic also often leads to accidents. The ‘Rij Ballonvrij’ campaign aims to combat the use of laughing gas behind the wheel among young people.
catering industry
Catering companies earn well from the sale of laughing gas. The price of a balloon is between 2 and 3 euros. The price is lower in stores. Laughing gas cartridges used in whipped cream syringes cost between 30 and 60 cents per cartridge.
addiction
It has not been known for very long that laughing gas is addictive. However, the number of laughing gas addicts is increasing rapidly. Treatments appear to have hardly any effect, because a large group of patients quickly relapses.
Ban
Laughing gas is not yet banned, at least not nationally. In some municipalities there is already a nitrous oxide ban. Laughing gas is currently covered by the Commodities Act. The drug will probably still be included in the Opium Act this year. A ban has been in the works for a long time. Laughing gas is already banned in Belgium.
By: National Education Guide / Æde de Jong
Sources: Trimbos Institute, Drugsinfo.nl