Nitrous oxide sold freely due to a law loophole.
Today, so-called ‘laughing gas’ (or ‘sweet air’), which is nothing else but nitrous oxide, may be bought with no restrictions in Belarus. One may order a portion by e-mail or by phone. The suppliers have even created a web page with a witty advertisement for their goods.
“This gas came to us right from Ibiza, where it is sold at any bar. The gas is packed in a small capsule easy to take anyway with you,” the ad reads.
Not surprisingly, the main target audience is youth.
“Take one with you, amaze your friends!” the slogan advices.
The pictures next to description try to persuade visitors the sellers are against alcohol and drugs. They all are for gas.
However, the vendors realize all the contradictoriness of their goods and highlight that “laughing gas is legal and safe way to boost your mood.”
Yet, is it legal? And is it safe?
The nitrous oxide is positioned as the food additive as it is used in food production. However, it is obvious the gas is advertised as a replacement for alcohol: it is enough to inhale it for a while.
The seller warns the gas may cause hallucinations if used together with alcohol. But isn’t it the signal for toxicomaniacs?!
“We sell pure mixture; it is classified as food substance. The dizzy effect of the gas comes from the high content of oxygen in the gas. There were no side effects traced…” says the gas dealer.
The seller also notices that one is required a license to use nitrous oxide for medical purposes. But small capsules of laughing gas may be sold as a food additive.
Nitrous oxide is actually used in food production and registered as E942 by the Ministry of Trade as a propellant and packaging gas.
However, it means that nitrous oxide is used to create high pressure inside sprays. Then we’ve got a question: what may occur if the gas is used the wrong way?
Dzmitryj Kaplich, an anaesthetist, considers the gas to be not that safe.
“It may cause respiratory arrest in case of an overdose,” the doctor says.
Dzmitryj Kaplich is the opponent of even small doses of nitrous oxide.
“What minimal doses? Nitrous oxide is the anesthetic drug, it mustn’t be sold freely. It must be used in hospitals by trained and certified specialists only.
The minimum dose may improve your mood, but a bigger one results into hallucinosis and respiratory arrest.”
Who may guarantee that teenagers will not use a dozen capsules at once to boost the effect?
Mr. Kaplich assures that disorders may arise even without simultaneous consumption with spirits.
“Freely sold nitrous oxide is nonsense! It’s it the same as if LSD sale would be permitted.”
However, even in spite of the warnings of doctors, the Drug Control Department explained that nitrous oxide is legal in Belarus.
The police agree that real drugs may be sold as laughing gas but an expertise is needed to prove it.
The officials seemed not enthusiastic at Nasha Niva’s appeal. Even despite the fact the situation around Minsk’s gas dealers looks our really alarming: someone sells a legal substance but encourages using it wrong.
***
Inhaling nitrous oxide causes hypoxemia — the condition of oxygen starvation, which affects all organism and separate organs.
The most susceptible to hypoxemia are central nervous system, heart, kidneys, liver.
Anesthetists have almost ceased using nitrous oxide for medical purposes as it a harmful drug.
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