Well-being - Helmstedt prohibits selling nitrous oxide to minors.
The Helmstedt region has forbidden the selling of nitrous oxide, a substance often used as a party drug, to minors. They made this decision during a council meeting on Wednesday evening, with two abstentions, as per a representative of the region. The reason behind the ban was the discovery of an automated machine selling nitrous oxide right next to a school in the neighboring Gifhorn region, as well as a kiosk in Schöningen promoting its nitrous oxide offer on Instagram.
To tackle this issue early on, the district administration has opted to prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide to minors through a safety prevention law, which is permitted by the police law of Lower Saxony.
Nitrous oxide is commonly utilized as an anesthetic in the medical field. When consumed as a recreational drug, however, it can lead to issues like confusion, nausea, unsteadiness, and a drop in blood pressure. In high doses, the consequences can be more severe, leading to heart attacks, severe paralysis, brain damage, or even death.
The Lower Saxony Criminal Police Office has mentioned occasional hospitalizations in the state as a result of inhaling nitrous oxide. Although, exact data from police crime statistics have not been confirmed. Since 2003, there have been approximately 300 crimes related to nitrous oxide in Lower Saxony, as per the details shared. The Federal Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach (SPD), has recently declared stricter regulations for the distribution of nitrous oxide, particularly to younger individuals.
