A European report also recalls that inhaling nitrous oxide can cause “serious damage, such as damage to the nervous system”.
“The increase in the recreational use of nitrous oxide in certain regions of Europe is worrying”, commented the director of the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) based in Lisbon, Alexis Goosdeel, quoted in a statement.
This concern is “growing”, according to the Observatory report. “Consumers generally feel that inhaling nitrous oxide is safe. Yet we find that more frequent or heavier consumption of the gas increases the risk of serious harm, such as nervous system damage” , he specified.
Legally used as a food additive or as an anesthetic in medicine, the recreational use of nitrous oxide is experiencing “increasing popularity” due to its availability and low price.
Do not “normalize” your consumption
“A profitable and expanding supply chain has developed, with specialty shops on the internet either directly promoting the gas for recreational use or offering it under the guise of using it to make whipped cream,” notes The report.
The number of poisonings recorded by the poison control centers is slightly up. In France, for example, 134 cases were reported in 2020, compared to 10 in 2017.
“It is therefore important to avoid normalizing and inadvertently promoting its consumption. Targeted actions and additional research are needed to improve understanding of the risks and reduce the harm,” said EMCDDA boss Alexis Goosdeel.
Source: BFM TV
