Drugs - City of Frankfurt takes action against laughing gas as a party drug
With prevention and awareness, the City of Frankfurt responds to the increasing consumption of laughing gas as a party drug. Information material has gone to multipliers such as the State Educational Authority, according to the Frankfurt Drug Referat. A video has also been produced.
Employees of the prevention project Safe Party People have been on the move several times, sensitizing kiosk operators. Some of these have agreed not to sell it to minors, reports the Drug Referat.
Consumption in Frankfurt significantly increased
Laughing gas is legally available for sale in Germany. Empty cartridges are a common sight in the Frankfurt city center, lying in the bushes or under parking spaces. According to the results of the latest drug trend study, the consumption of laughing gas in Frankfurt has significantly increased. In 2022, 17% of 15- to 18-year-olds reported having tried it at least once. The previous year, it was 13%.
The consumption is harmful: The German Neurological Society warns of loss of consciousness, paralytic symptoms, and brain damage. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced stricter rules at the end of May to curb the sale of laughing gas, particularly to young people.
Regulation with a sales ban for minors is sensible, explains Oliver Müller-Maar from the Frankfurt Drug Referat. The example of alcohol shows, however, that bans alone do not help. "Offensive prevention and awareness for all involved – young people, parents, educational professionals, and multipliers, but also for the trade – are flanking measures in any case important."
- The increase in laughing gas consumption as a party drug has led to concerns about health risks, with the German Neurological Society warning of potential loss of consciousness, paralytic symptoms, and brain damage.
- In response to this trend, Hesse's Drug Referat, located in Frankfurt am Main, has been promoting prevention and awareness initiatives, distributing information material to multipliers and producing educational videos.
- Frankfurter Rät, in particular, has been working with projects like Safe Party People, engaging with kiosk operators to prevent nitrous oxide sales to minors, following reports of increased consumption in Frankfurt's city center.
- To address this issue more comprehensively, Frankfurter Rät suggests implementing a regulation that includes a sales ban for minors, acknowledging that while such measures can contribute to prevention, they must be accompanied by broader awareness campaigns to effectively reduce the misuse of party drugs like nitrous oxide.
