Marielle Theander Olsson/TT
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Doctors warn that more and more young people are abusing nitrous oxide – which, with prolonged use, can lead to paralysis.
– It is a disaster for them, says neurologist Magnus Johnsson.
New figures from CAN also show that 14 percent of high school sophomores have tried the gas at some point.
The percentage of students in the second year of high school who have tried nitrous oxide at some point has decreased slightly since last year, from 17 percent to 14 percent, but is still relatively large. Among the ninth graders, the percentage is roughly at the same level as last year, around 5–6 percent.
It shows preliminary and not yet published figures from the Central Association for Alcohol and Narcotics Information (CAN), which annually examines the habits of school youth when it comes to alcohol, smoking and drugs.
– We also ask if they have used nitrous oxide in the last twelve months, and even there it has dropped from 14 to 10 percent in the second year of high school. But it is too early to say whether it is some kind of trend or why it looks like that, says Siri Thor, investigator at CAN.
Acute oxygen deficiency
Alarms that more and more young people are inhaling the gas as a party drug have replaced each other in recent years. Last year, the Poison Information Center received three times as many calls about nitrous oxide poisoning compared to the year before.
At the same time, a number of social actors have warned of dangers. According to Magnus Johnsson, neurologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, there are both acute and longer-term risks with using nitrous oxide for intoxicating purposes.
– If it happens in uncontrolled forms, it can be very dangerous. It has happened that patients have come in with an acute lack of oxygen, heart problems or the like. There are even reports of people dying after using nitrous oxide, but that is very rare, he says.
Suffers from paralysis
As a neurologist, however, he mainly sees the effects of long-term use, which can, among other things, cause a lack of vitamin B12 in the body. This risks leading to nerve damage or damage to the bone marrow – sometimes so severe that the person needs a wheelchair. In the worst case, the damage can become chronic.
– I have seen several patients who have come in after losing sensation or becoming paralyzed. This applies to those who have used large amounts of nitrous oxide for a long time and usually several times a week.
Stuck in addiction
Magnus Johnsson feels that the abuse of nitrous oxide has increased. Increasingly, he is seeing patients in their 20s seeking treatment for severe injuries after buying large quantities and inhaling the gas regularly at home.
– It is a disaster for them. They can have long term neurological problems with paralysis for example and as with any other addiction I have seen it ruin their lives in terms of relationships, jobs and other things.
According to Magnus Johnsson, underlying problems with anxiety can be one of the reasons why young people get stuck in an abuse of nitrous oxide.
– I have often seen that it becomes like a way to escape from everyday life and life. The very moment you use it, things feel better, but the effect is very short-lived, so many people need to take new ones all the time to keep that feeling.
“Not harmless”
Nitrous oxide is not classified as a narcotic in Sweden and it is not illegal to sell the gas for private use. The government has tasked several authorities with informing about the risks of nitrous oxide and also wants to investigate an age limit.
Magnus Johnsson wants to see regulation of sales.
– The most important thing is to realize that there are serious risks with this, that it is not as harmless as some seem to think.
FACTS About the survey
The survey went out to approximately 350 schools/classes in year 9 and year 2 of upper secondary school, according to a random sample.
80 percent of schools with ninth graders and 85 percent of schools with high school sophomores participated. In total, it is about 5,000 students in each year.
The dropout rate was 22 percent in the ninth year and 20 percent in the second year of upper secondary school. This includes, for example, students on sick leave or students who chose not to participate.
The full results of CAN’s survey will be published in a report on 11 December.
Source: CAN’s national school survey
Read moreFACTS Gasoline
Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas that smells slightly sweet and has the chemical name nitrous oxide.
The name comes from the fact that the gas produces an intoxication that often provokes laughter or giggles.
Nitrous oxide has long been used as a pain reliever in healthcare, mainly during childbirth. It is then mixed with oxygen
When high doses are inhaled, the gas can cause a lack of oxygen which can lead to unconsciousness and brain damage. The lack of oxygen can also cause heart rhythm disturbances and sudden death.
In case of long-term abuse, there is a risk of neurological damage, with balance difficulties and an impact on the bone marrow as a result.
Source: Poison Information Centre
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