Britain’s nitrous oxide craze is set to die, official data shows today.
A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 3.9 per cent of 16-24 year olds in England had used nitrous oxide at least once in the past year.
That was less than half the 8.7 percent who said they had the drug – nicknamed “hippie crack” – the year before and the lowest number on record.
The drug, which is usually inhaled from a balloon, has grown in popularity over the past decade and raised concerns about its oxygen-starving effects.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 3.9 per cent of 16-24 year olds in England had tried nitrous oxide at least once by June. That was less than half the 8.7 percent who said they used the drug, nicknamed “hippie crack,” the year before, and the lowest number on record
Graph shows percentage of 16-24 year olds who used nitrous oxide (blue), cocaine (green) or ketamine (black) at least once a year in England
Graphic shows: 20 to 24-year-olds (light blue) used the most drugs of all age groups in the year to June 2022
The graph shows: Drug use was more than three times higher among adults who regularly went to nightclubs than among those who never went
Despite the decline in NOS, ONS data also showed that more people were using ketamine throughout the year. It was the second largest jump of any drug other than methamphetamine.
About 4.1 percent of those under 60 said they had used the party drug at some point in their lives in the past year, up from 3 percent the year before.
The increases for cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana were much smaller.
ONS data shows that nitrous oxide was most popular among girls aged 16 to 24 from October 2021 to June 2022.
About 4.6 percent of young women used the drug over the year, compared to 3.3 percent of their male counterparts.
Statisticians said the downturn may have been caused by the Covid pandemic, with government restrictions on social contact limiting people’s exposure to drugs.
However, they did not explain why recreational use of ketamine, a tranquilizer for horses, increased over the year.
Laughing gas is popular at festivals and has become a popular recreational drug over the past decade.
Users inhale the colorless gas via balloons or containers, which can cost as little as £25 for industrial containers.
The “high” kicks in immediately, leaving the user giddy, relaxed and giggling, and lasts an average of one to two minutes.
However, if users have too much of it, they can pass out or suffocate due to lack of oxygen to the brain by inhaling highly concentrated forms of the gas.
It can also cause dizziness, hallucinations and severe headaches, and make you unable to think clearly, making driving difficult.
Heavy and frequent use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia.
The drug is legally available to commercial caterers for use in whipped cream dispensers and other applications.
However, the silver cans of the gas, which can be easily bought online, often end up in the hands of young people as a recreational drug.
Only possession with intent to supply due to its intoxicating effect is currently illegal in Great Britain.
However, the Home Office is considering a stricter ban that could make possession illegal.
Stricter laws may also be introduced to limit ease of purchase if the government decides to act.
ONS data showed that cannabis remains the most popular drug among 16-24-year-olds, with 16.2 per cent using it at least once a year.
It is followed by cocaine (4 percent), nitrous oxide (3.9 percent) and ketamine (3.1 percent).
The popularity of ketamine among the age group even decreased slightly, from 3.2 percent in the previous year.
But across all age groups, use of the dangerous sedatives rose from 0.8 percent to 0.9 percent over the year.
Ketamine is a registered drug commonly used as an anesthetic and pain reliever.
It is also used as a recreational drug and is classified by the Home Office as a Class B Prohibited Substance.
In other related news…
Heartbroken parents of man who died of a drug overdose six years ago are calling again for drugs to be legalized after teenager’s death in nightclub
‘Smart and hard-working’ schoolgirl, 16, dies after taking ‘ecstasy’ with friends at nightclub
Alcoholics are given ketamine as part of therapy to see if the party drug helps them stop drinking
What is laughing gas and is it illegal?
Nitrous oxide is nicknamed “laughing gas” because of the euphoric and relaxed feeling that people who inhale it can sometimes experience.
The substance – also known as “hippie crack” – is usually purchased in pressurized containers and is usually transferred to a container, such as a balloon, from which the gas is inhaled.
Although possession of nitrous oxide is not illegal, English law prohibits its sale to anyone under the age of 18 if they are likely to inhale it.
Nitrous oxide canisters and cigarette butts lie on the side of the road in Camden Town on February 11.
The effects of nitrous oxide vary depending on how much is inhaled, but include:
• Feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness.
• Dizziness, difficulty thinking clearly and giggling/laughing.
• Sound distortions or even hallucinations.
• Headaches can be an immediate unwanted effect for some people.
Risks include:
• Loss of consciousness or death due to lack of oxygen. This happens when the oxygen available for breathing is effectively displaced by the nitric oxide.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
