Monday 21 November 2022 05:11 PM 'Hippy crack' is more dangerous to vegans and veggies, EU drug agency says trends now
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Vegans and vegetarians may be at greater risk when abusing laughing gas as a recreational drug, experts have warned.
People on a meat- and dairy-free diet could be at risk of chronic illness from taking nitrous oxide because they are already deficient in vitamin B12, the European Union drug agency said.
A new report also warned of dangers posed by larger cylinders of the gas - dubbed 'hippy crack' - which are being marketed to the young.
People who inhale the gas to get 'high' are turning to the larger canisters which has 'led to an increase in frostbite and lung injuries', the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said.
Nitrous oxide is regularly taken by young people at parties and festivals, and the small silver canisters it is usually sold in have become a familiar sight in town centres and parks
The large aerosols also promote 'more regular and heavier use', it added.
Among many dangerous side effects, nitrous oxide can cause 'irreversible inactivation of vitamin B12', the report said.
'More people, particularly young people, are choosing vegetarian and vegan diets that are poor in this vitamin,' it said.
'Low levels of the vitamin increases the risk of chronic toxicity, particularly nerve damage.
'Due to this, the level of vitamin B12 deficiencies in this group and the risk of chronic toxicity may need to be
