Canisters of nitrous oxide are everywhere, littered sidewalks and tacked to news websites. So what’s in those little silver barrels and why are governments banning them? Sky News finds out what you need to know.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or NOS, will be banned as part of a government crackdown on antisocial behavior.
But what are the silver canisters littering the sidewalks used for? Why do people consume them? What are the health risks?
Here’s what you need to know about nitrous oxide.
What is nitrous oxide and how is it used?
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or NOS, is an inhaled gas that gives users a short, sharp euphoria.
Party drugs are second only to cannabis as the most commonly abused substance among 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK.
Often the gas is transferred to a balloon, but sometimes the gas is inhaled directly from the canister.
Nitrous oxide slows down the reactions of the brain and body.
It creates a feeling of euphoria and can trigger bouts of giggling.
Illegal sale of laughing gas
What health problems can it cause?
Long-term use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia, and nerve damage.
Doctors also warn that using laughing gas can lead to spinal cord injury.
Ann Sky news survey It revealed that there had been a spike in hospitalizations caused by people using party drugs.
read more:
How Laughing Gas Poisoning Ruined My Life
Misuse of party drug laughing gas ‘no joke’, neuroscientist warns
Misuse of the substance is the most common cause of emergency admissions to neurological wards, Dr David Nichol, clinical director of neurology at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, told Sky News in December. .
He said people had come to the hospital with difficulty walking, tingling in their limbs, slurred speech, and sometimes seizures.
What legitimate uses does it have?
Tiny silver nitrous oxide canisters are often sold in boxes labeled “cream chargers,” indicating one of the more harmless uses.
Nitrous oxide is used as a whipped cream propellant, especially in professional kitchens and in whipped cream chargers.
It can be used to bring more oxygen into your car’s engine, helping your engine run faster.
When combined with oxygen, it is also used as an anesthetic in medical and dental settings.
how do people get it?
of sting operation I also found it easy to buy nitrous oxide from the corner shop.
The store didn’t ask how old the person who purchased the canister was or what they were going to do with the canister.
All shop added to a packet of party balloons commonly used to inhale gas.
why is it banned?
This ban is part of a crackdown on anti-social behavior.
Sky News announces ban on Sophy Ridge on Sunday program, level up secretaries Michael Gove “It is absolutely imperative that we deal with this scourge,” he said.
“Anyone who has had the chance to walk through a major city park has probably seen these little silver canisters. It’s an example of taking drugs that can have neurological effects, and contribute to antisocial behavior in general.”
Nitrous Oxide Banned
What does ban mean?
Supplying nitrous oxide for psychotropic purposes is already illegal, but the ban allows you to be prosecuted for possession.
The ban will be based on the Abuse of Substances Act of 1971, but it has not yet been confirmed which class (A, B, or C) the drug falls into.
