It is then transferred to a container such as a balloon to be inhaled. Laughing gas is in line to be made illegal under a drugs crackdown. The Independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs may also suggest more education for young people as well as tougher punishment after reviewing its risk. If nitrous oxide is inhaled through the mouth from a pressurised gas canister or in a confined space it can cause sudden death through lack of oxygen.
Heavy, regular use of the drug can cause a deficiency of vitamin B12 and a form of anaemia. One woman was left paralysed from the chest down after inhaling 15 balloons of 'hippy crack' every weekend. For more information, see drugs advice site, Frank. Ever since the Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect on 26 May it has been illegal to supply or import nitrous oxide for human consumption. Inhaling nitrous oxide can result in a lack of oxygen to the brain. This can result in a person falling unconscious and even dying through suffocation or heart problems.
This risk is likely to be greater if the gas is consumed in an enclosed space or if a lot is used at the same time.
If inhaling from a balloon, only take a small breath and make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. Regular or heavy use of nitrous oxide has been linked to a deficiency in vitamin B This can lead to nerve damage which causes pain and tingling in the toes and fingers.
Studies have also linked heavy use of the gas to some forms of anaemia. In England and Wales, it is not illegal to possess nitrous oxide — but that could soon change. It is the whipped-cream chargers that people buy for recreational use. The gas is usually inhaled by discharging a canister containing small amounts of the gas into a balloon.
It takes effect quickly and produces brief euphoria. Some users will want to repeat this, but for the vast majority of people, use is restricted to a few episodes a year. Some clinical case reports suggest very heavy patterns of use, but these are rare and may be more likely in those able to source large amounts of the gas, including diversion from legitimate medical supplies.
It appears that she intends to make possession a criminal offence. Supplying this drug for approved non-medical uses is already illegal under legislation introduced in under the Psychoactive Substances Act. The better known Misuse of Drugs Act the ABC classification system introduces possession offences and affords police and regulators greater powers. Existing legislation was meant to restrict the availability to medical and catering uses, but many loopholes exist, which means it is easy to buy the drug online.
The law currently only applies to anyone supplying the drug for psychoactive use. Since , there is better awareness and clarification of potential harms, but no new evidence has emerged that would necessarily warrant a new review.
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