Lauterbach intends to prohibit the sale of laughing gas at kiosks immediately.
Nitrous oxide, an inexpensive gas that's become a popular party drug among young people, is causing concern among healthcare professionals. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach plans to take swift action to limit its sale, especially to minors.
"We're working on a solution quickly," Lauterbach stated in an interview with ARD's "Morgenmagazin." One possible measure could be to reclassify nitrous oxide as a psychoactive substance like in Lower Saxony, with stringent rules in place for its distribution.
"We're tackling this issue immediately," the SPD politician reassured. Up until a law is passed, Lauterbach recommends parents to educate their children about the dangers of nitrous oxide use. "It may seem harmless and fun, but it's not," Lauterbach cautioned. Prolonged consumption could lead to accidents, medication interactions, or even neurological damage. Permanent damage is also not uncommon. "It's a huge risk for children and adolescents," he added.
Volker Limmroth, the head physician at the Clinic for Neurology in Cologne-Merheim, shares the sentiment. "Nitrous oxide is largely underestimated," said Limmroth about the gas that's currently legal, cheap, and easily accessible at kiosks, even near schools. "We need to disrupt its availability. A medical anesthetic has no place on the market alongside Snickers bars," he remarked.
Unlike in some other countries, Germany does not have a ban on the sale or use of nitrous oxide. The German Neurological Society has issued a warning about the issue. The incidence of usage is surging, particularly among teenagers and young adults. According to the Lower Saxony Medical Association, laughing gas does not fall under the classification of drugs under the Narcotics Act.
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Source: www.ntv.de
