Nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, has proliferated among young people in recent years in Spain due to how easy it is to obtain and how cheap it is. Specifically, it is a gas with anesthetic, analgesic, and dissociative properties, colorless, almost odorless, and with a slightly sweet taste. Furthermore, it is easily combustible and heavier than air.
Its format is commercialized in capsules in liquid form or compressed gas and, in general, a mixture of 65% oxygen and 35% nitrous oxide is inhaled. The effects it causes appear quickly and also disappear in a short period of time. Its consumption is through inhalation, expanding through the lungs and reaching the brain through the respiratory tract.
The effects it has are a feeling of euphoria, well-being, and laughter. Due to its rapid absorption, it spreads through the central nervous system immediately after inhalation, in less than a minute. The effects last a maximum of 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the inhaled dose.
This substance is used both as a drug and a medication. Some specialists, such as dentists, use it for sedation and pain relief. However, it is also used as an industrial food additive in whipped cream cans and dispensers as a propellant. Nitrous oxide is also found in butane lighters, propane gas tanks, and refrigerants.
Health Risks
According to the Ministry of Health, there is a social perception of safety regarding its consumption, but the reality is that it has serious health consequences when used as a drug, something that is happening among the younger population
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) estimates that its non-medical use represents a health risk. However, its habitual consumption carries risks such as asphyxiation due to being a compressed gas. It can also cause hallucinations, uncontrolled vocalization, altered perception, spatial and temporal disorientation, or reduced pain sensitivity
The main risks are due to the lack of oxygen it causes in the brain, which can translate into fainting or respiratory arrest. Thus, continued consumption can damage the spinal cord and even cause death. Furthermore, if this substance is used for several consecutive days or intensely in one session, a decrease in the body's vitamin B12 levels occurs, which can cause neurological and cognitive problems
Other problems can cause:
- Burns to the mouth and upper respiratory tract due to inhaling the gas directly from the cartridges due to the low temperature at which the substance is released.
- Hypoxia (asphyxiation) caused by holding the gas in the lungs for too long or consuming it in enclosed spaces.
- Falls and injuries due to loss of balance when feeling the effects on the body.
- Traffic accidents related to its consumption
