Warning: Misuse of Nitrous oxide can cause death

There are 5 common uses of Nitrous oxide a.k.a. "laughing gas". It is used for rocket motors, internal engine combustion, medicinal purposes, culinary use and recreational use. One of the inhalant effects of the gas is the euphoria or floating experience. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is often abused and misused by young people to get high especially that it is cheap and available anywhere. When not used properly, N2O leads to death. It is dangerous enough to kill when taken foolishly and unprofessionally.


How fatal is Nitrous Oxide?

• When nitrous oxide is inhaled without oxygen it will result to an instant death. For recreational use, the gas is taken purely either from a balloon or canister. Long exposure or extended period of time with no presence of oxygen will cause suffocation. Study shows that there is an increase possibility of brain damage when the brain receives insufficient amount of oxygen.


• People who have undergone surgeries are advised not to inhale nitrous oxide. Taking in the gas with severe medical conditions can only worsen the patient's case. Pre-existing medical conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, asthma, airway obstruction, head injury, or chest infection plus nitrous oxide can equal to death.


• Pregnant women are prohibited to use Nitrous oxide as it may cause abortion. The Vitamin B12 deficiency brought by N2O addiction has bad effects in the embryonic development. Women have to avoid the exposure in the early stage of pregnancy.

Harmful effects of Nitrous Oxide


Possible short term effects: a pain-free state, short-lived but intense high, depersonalization (detached from yourself), derealization (external world seems strange or unreal), dizziness or, loss of balance, euphoria, stimulate an already excited user, slight hallucinations or mental confusion, throbbing or pulsating audible hallucinations, sedate a more relaxed user, and possible increase in libido.


Inhaling N2O gas is habit-forming due to its short term effects that only take generally from 0.1-1 minute with recreational doses. The dangers of the short-lived effects are the same with drinking alcoholic beverages such as death while driving drunk, assault and accidental injuries.


Possible long term effects: asphyxiation, vitamin b12 deficiency (lack of red blood cells), folic acid interference, neuropathy (a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord), possible brain damage, tinnitus (ringing, whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sounds in the ear), numbness in extremities, limb spasms, loss of ability to walk, motor control loss, possible paralysis, and incontinence.


The long term effects are brought by the continuous and excessive amounts of N2O intake.

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