DEADLY risk of laughing gas

Nitrous Oxide baloonsOlivia with her partner inhaling Nitrous Oxide balloons at a festival (Image: NC)

At its congress next month the Royal College of Nursing will discuss shock figures revealing that nitrous oxide - known as hippy crack - is becoming increasingly popular with young people, with 7.6 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 using it. This is far more than the numbers who take cocaine (4.2 per cent) and ecstasy (3.9 per cent). Many users also mix it with other drugs, especially alcohol. The college will also highlight research which shows that between 2013-17 there were 23 deaths from the gas. Stuart McKenzie, clinical nurse manager and specialist in mental health at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, will forward a motion at the congress to discuss the lack of understanding over the abuse of nitrous oxide. He will be calling for more research into its health consequences and education for nurses into the dangers.

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He said: "We, as the Royal College of Nursing, can possibly have an influence on protecting against future loss of life and harms from this drug if we open up and share research into the dangers.

"We want people to make informed decisions about the use of this drug. It is not about having a paternalistic state. It's about people understanding the risks."

He added: "Law-makers, professionals and politicians need a joint position on this - as they would with any other substance leading to the loss of life."

The gas, commonly used by dentists as an anaesthetic and also in engines to make them run more efficiently, is often

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