Recreational substance - Reported cases to date involving the misuse of nitrous oxide.
There have been some cases where people have been hospitalized after using laughing gas in Lower Saxony, as per the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) of the region. However, they noted that there's incomplete data available on this topic. Criminal activity related to laughing gas has been recorded in lower triple-digit numbers from 2003 until May this year, with theft and fraud offenses being a part of it. Besides, some young people and adolescents have ended up in the hospital after consuming laughing gas using balloons or canisters. The LKA stated that there are no reported traffic accidents related to the use of laughing gas. It is most likely that there are more cases that haven't been recorded too.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has proposed stricter rules for the sale of laughing gas, particularly to young people. Laughing gas has been a hot topic recently as it's popular as a party drug. The German Society for Neurology has warned against its use, as it can potentially cause accidents or even neurological damage. There's a possibility of suffering from permanent damage as well.
Laughing gas, which is used industrially or in medicine, is currently easily accessible for purchase in Germany. It's available as a propellant in aerosol cans or in capsules as a foaming agent, as mentioned by the LKA.
Read also:
- Tough return to normality in snow and ice
- Fewer unauthorized entries: Domino effect through controls
- Trial against BND employee from mid-December
- Xhaka leads Leverkusen to triumph in cup tournament, scoring two goals.
- In Hanover, some individuals have required hospitalization due to the misuse of nitrous oxide as a party drug, highlighting the health risks associated with its non-medical use.
- The LKA of Lower Saxony reported that there have been numerous instances of criminal activity related to nitrous oxide, including theft and fraud, but no documented traffic accidents linked to its use as a party drug.
- Despite the concerns raised by authorities and medical professionals, nitrous oxide, a substance often used industrially or in medicine, is readily available for purchase in Lower Saxony, contributing to its misuse as a party drug.
- Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has advocated for stricter regulations on the sale of nitrous oxide to young people, underlining the need for comprehensive measures to address the issue of its misuse as a party drug.
Source:
