Nitrous oxide is growing as a gateway to heavier drugs – farmers in Västerås are worried

When the evenings get warmer, more young people are out. And in several places in Västerås, the traces of young people’s abuse of nitrous oxide are visible. Social service field workers in Västerås agree with the picture that SVT Nyheter Västmanland’s attention-grabbing review has shown, that nitrous oxide and heavier drugs are often connected.

– Those who sell nitrous oxide are the same individuals who also supply alcohol and drugs. It is easy to spin on it, and that can lead to greater risks, he says.

Nitrous oxide – the cover of the drug lords

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  • Do as adults do

    Erik Reidemar also sees a connection between young people’s addiction and how the adults around them act.

    – I think that many young individuals strive for some form of intoxication. And it is based on seeing adults who are their role models get drunk. If it’s okay for adults to get drunk, young people probably think it’s something we can also strive for, he says.

    Start the video to follow the field worker Erik out to an industrial area in Västerås and see what the young people have left behind.

    Västerås ratifies local ban on nitrous oxide: “No increase here”

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    In the clip, municipal councilor Staffan Jansson (S) talks about why it is not appropriate to ban nitrous oxide in public places in Västerås. Photo: Anna Mi Skog/SVT

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