The labor union aims to prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide to underage individuals.
Nitrous oxide, often used as a medical anesthetic, is becoming more popular among young Germans as a recreational drug. Unlike other anesthetics, it's still easily accessible for purchase.
Members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group want to change this. CDU health expert Tino Sorge spoke to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, warning against the abuse of nitrous oxide by young people. "Medical anesthetics have no place with kids and teens," he said.
The risks associated with nitrous oxide abuse are severe. It can lead to psychological dependence, fainting, paralysis, and even heart problems. Sorge urges swift legislation to prevent its use as a party drug, especially among minors.
Nitrous oxide, also known as dinitrogen monoxide (N2O), was the first pain-free anesthetic used in surgery over 200 years ago. However, nitrous oxide's anesthetic effects have since been replaced by other drugs. The German Society of Neurology recently advised against its use, as a growing number of adolescents and young adults consume it.
The Problem With Nitrous Oxide Vending Machines
In Gifhorn, near Wolfsburg, a vending machine selling nitrous oxide alongside candy and e-cigarettes has raised concerns. The town's parents' council wants local authorities to act and move the vending machines away from schools and daycare centers. They've also sent a letter to Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach of the SPD, asking for a review of regulations surrounding nitrous oxide sales near children.
Christoph Fink, a committee member, said, "We need to question why such dangerous substances can be sold near children and demand a review and stricter regulations."
General practitioners agree with the parents' council. Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth, Federal Chairperson of the Association of General Practitioners, says that the sale of nitrous oxide should be regulated more strictly, as in other European countries. "We need to better protect children and young people from this type of substance," she told RND.
So far, the sale and consumption of nitrous oxide is not banned in Germany. The Lower Saxony Medical Association claims that nitrous oxide is not classified as a drug under the Narcotics Act. But parents, general practitioners, and health experts all agree that tougher regulations are needed to protect young people from the potential dangers of nitrous oxide.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group is now pushing for a ban on selling nitrous oxide to minors in the Bundestag. Let's hope they're heard. The health and safety of our children and young people should come first.
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Source: www.ntv.de
