Nitrous oxide is an increasingly popular party drug among young people. In Regensburg, the cartridges are even available in snack machines.
Side effects include frostbite on the lips if you inhale the gas directly from the cartridge. Nerve and brain damage can also occur. In the Netherlands, where nitrous oxide was on its way to becoming the most popular drug among students, it was added to the list of banned intoxicants last year. Possession and sale have been prohibited there since 2023. The short rush - 30 seconds to three minutes - is described as brief euphoria, dizziness, sometimes accompanied by fits of laughter or even hallucinations. But there are also risks – excessive use can even lead to suffocation. For confidential support, call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details. For support in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.