It is all the rage among teenagers across France, and Paris, too, is no exception to the hilarious gas trend. Its consumption even exploded during confinement, as evidenced by the thousands of small silver cartridges that litter the gutters of all the districts of the capital. And for good reason: getting them, at a minimal price, is child's play. But if the hilarity crisis is assured, the health consequences do not make doctors laugh.
Nitrous oxide, used as an analgesic in medicine, is simply found in the cartridges used for whipped cream siphons, accessible to everyone in any supermarket, for a handful of euros. But not only: surfing the wave, and the enthusiasm that this practice arouses among young people, many online sales companies have launched themselves into the rather prosperous business of "proto", diverted for recreational purposes.
Delifun, Smartwhip, All Night… So many very young companies, also relayed on E-bay, which offer gas on the Internet in all its forms, ranging from lots of mini-cartridges to “fire extinguisher” bottles, balloons in which the candidates for the laughter crisis inhale the product, but also strong alcohols "so that the party is complete".
Completely legal
Orders are made in a few "clicks" for express delivery (30 minutes) to Paris and Ile-de-France (see below) . The only constraint, which is not one: to certify that you are of legal age, without the slightest proof being provided. Consumption, like the trade in protoxide, may not be prohibited, even if a Senate report of December 2019 seriously pinpointed this practice, companies play the discretion. For example, an address in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (Val-de-Marne), supposed to house a laughing gas distributor, actually houses… an insurance company!
A vast prevention campaign
The city of Paris, faced with the scale of the phenomenon, last week seized the Metropolitan Mission of risky behaviors, in order to work alongside it, on a vast prevention campaign with 13 to 15 year olds: "During confinement, we had a lot of feedback from street educators and caretakers of Paris-Habitat buildings who found cartridges and carboys in quantity in the common areas, details Colombe Brossel, the assistant to the security of the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo . During these difficult times, the food stores remained open, and it was very easy to obtain gas cartridges. "
Kits and information sessions for teens are therefore on the program for the coming months, because, Paris, in reverse of certain other cities in France which have signed orders prohibiting the consumption of laughing gas on public roads, estimated, in counseling session, that prevention would be a more effective weapon.
"I'm here around 8:15 pm": We ordered gas on the Internet
7:30 p.m. The order is placed. Delifun offers great opportunities: dozens of choices, lots of capsules, bottles. Not much to do to get them. You just need to specify that you are of legal age. Well, I opt for a large format, the equivalent of 80 proto capsules. It will cost me 39.80 euros. Plus 4.90 euros for delivery costs.
" OK. I'm there around 8:15 p.m. I'm a little late. I have a big delivery on Aubervilliers. I'm sorry, I'm coming right away! Says my delivery man. Finally, here he comes down from my house in the 18th century. An unmarked white car. He hands me a black plastic bag and offers to test the "proto". I decline. Not easy to do the tasting in the street!
In the bag, there is a large bottle, not very engaging with its technical indications and its skulls. There is also a lot of black balloons. It's a gift. When placing the order, we agreed to pay by credit card. But at the last moment, it does not go as planned.
"Sorry, my terminal is not working!" We need liquid, ”says the delivery man, looking falsely embarrassed. OK ! We pay cash. We bet it is the same for all customers! The deal is done. It is 8:30 p.m.