[ad_1]
Young people who use nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas", are at high risk for their health, including paranoia, breathing problems and even death, the nurses warned.
The inhalation of nitrous oxide is so dangerous that ministers must launch a high-profile campaign to alert users of potentially disastrous consequences, NHS nurses said.
The drug, also known as "noz" and "hippy crack", is popular with teens and young adults, including clubbers and music festival goers. It is the same substance that is administered to women during delivery and to patients on dental treatment to control pain. Those who use it illicitly often breathe it after transferring the silver flasks into balloons.
It is the second most commonly used drug in England by 16-24 years old after cannabis. Half a million of them used it in the past year – one in 11 of this age group. The most recent figures from the Home Office show that many more men than women of this age are turning to her to look for a euphoric high.
But taking it can lead to a variety of health problems, such as burns, a dangerous increase in heart rate, swelling of the brain, nerve damage and anemia, as well as serious psychological problems, according to delegates at the Royal College of Nursing's annual conference. Liverpool Tuesday.
They will demand actions to highlight the dangers of drugs during a debate about what they say to be "a significant lack of understanding of the impact of nitrous oxide on the health and well-being of the people who use it ", in particular too little awareness among users of its pitfalls. .
"Despite the increasing use of nitrous oxide, especially among young people, far too few people know the risks. This could be a short-term peak, but long-term damage is not a matter of laughter, "said Catherine Gamble, MRC's head of mental health nursing.
On average, five people die each year after inhaling gas, which caused 25 deaths between 2010 and 2016, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.
A & E doctors say that they are seeing more and more people needing immediate medical help after using it.
"The effects of inhaling nitrous gases can include headaches, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, collapse and consequent injury," said Dr. Chris Moulton, Royal Vice President. College of Emergency Medicine.
"When it is administered by a health professional, it is an extremely safe medication, but its recreational use can be dangerous." The method of administration can be particularly dangerous because the gas is under such pressure that direct inhalation can cause damage to the throat and lungs. "
Prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide in 2016 has failed to stem the black market, and nurses are seeing the consequences, Gamble said.
Roz Gittins, director of pharmacy at Addaction, a charity dedicated to drugs and alcohol, said: "Used for recreational purposes, it can cause euphoria and help people feel more relaxed, sometimes gigantic or hallucinating. [But] Respiratory problems can occur when a large amount of gas is inhaled over a short period of time or in a confined space. "
Steve Rolles, senior policy badyst at Transform, a charity for drug enforcement, said the use of this drug has been steadily increasing over the past 15 years.
"Nitrous oxide is particularly difficult to prohibit, given its widespread use in the areas of food, medicine and driving – and its increasing use demonstrates that attempts to ban it have failed.
"Given this, a harm reduction approach is the only realistic way to reduce risk: educate people on how to use it more moderately and safely, and how to avoid the risk of injury." by fainting, asphyxiation or exhaustion of vitamin B12 linked to intensive use, "he added.
Source link
