Recently, the UK government announced that nitrous oxide (N2O) is being made into a Class C drug – but what does this mean? Read on for all the info on what nitrous oxide is, what it does, what the new classification means – and how it might affect you if you’ve been using it or have some in your possession.
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that is most commonly used by doctors and dentists to relieve patients of pain, and/or to sedate them for minor operations. It is also used industrially as the propellant in cans of whipped cream - that’s the hissing sound you hear when you add a swirl of cream to your favourite dessert! Some people also choose to misuse nitrous oxide as a recreational drug, to help them feel happy or high when socialising or in their free time. This is why you may also have heard N2O referred to by street names such as ‘whippets’, ‘bulbs’, ‘balloons’, ‘chargers’, ‘nitrous’, ‘noz’ and ‘laughing gas’.
But is it really all laughs?
How is it taken and what does it do?
When misused as a recreational drug, nitrous oxide is usually breathed in through a balloon that has been filled with the N2O gas – this can also be called “sipping”. It can also be inhaled directly from the canister it comes in – although this is less common. People choose to take nitrous oxide because they enjoy its immediate effects, mainly its ability to make them feel joyful and giggly. Some may also use it to help self-regulate pain both physically and mentally as it can make you feel “distant” or “out of it.” It has never been considered a good idea to personally use nitrous oxide, but until very recently it has been freely available with no legal consequences should you be found in possession of it. This is all about to change.
The new law – what does it mean?
On Wednesday 8 November, the UK Government declared nitrous oxide a ‘Class C’ drug, meaning that from now on, if you are found to have any, you could face up to 2 years in prison – and an unlimited fine. If you’re found to be supplying it to other people, you could face up to 14 years in prison. Like other controlled drugs, nitrous oxide can still be offered in certain circumstances by specific people – for example by a trained and licenced anaesthetist during a hospital procedure. But if a random person offers you some on a night out, or your friend suggests it as a fun thing to try one day…
Both they, and you (if you accept) will be committing a criminal offence.
Why have they changed the law?
Despite making you feel happy and giggly, nitrous oxide is actually a very harmful drug that can have extreme negative effects, some of which are permanent. Negative short-term symptoms people can experience while taking it may include:
- Numbness and/or tingling feelings in different body parts, usually the arms and legs.
- Auditory and visual hallucinations (hearing sounds and/or seeing things that are not really there).
- Blurred vision.
- Confusion.
- Feeling dizzy and light-headed.
- Feeling unusually tired and/or weak.
- Severe headache.
Over a longer period of time, misusing nitrous oxide can cause very serious health problems, such as brain and nerve damage, and permanent damage to the spinal cord, leaving many people unable to walk for the rest of their lives. You only need to inhale a small amount of N2O each week over a period of months to be at significant risk.
Do you ever truly know how much is too much? This is important as if you take too much nitrous oxide in one go you could run the risk of fainting, having a heart attack, becoming paralysed and starving your brain of oxygen (‘hypoxia’) which could lead to permanent brain damage and, in extreme cases, death.
When you think about all this, doesn’t it seem crazy to know that something that can cause you this much harm has been so easily available without consequences for so long? Nitrous oxide’s new class C categorisation, and the legal consequences for dealers and users that comes with it, are there to protect you and the ones you love.
In summary – always remember:
- Nitrous oxide is a drug that can have severe (and sometimes lethal) side effects.
- Although nitrous oxide might give you a giggle when you take it, it’s certainly not funny in the long run. If you need a laugh, we recommend something less harmful like going to see some comedy, watching your favourite funny movie, or calling up that friend who always tells bad jokes.
- The change in the law now means that if you are caught dealing, possessing, or taking nitrous oxide, you could end up in prison or with a hefty fine, as well as a permanent mark on both your criminal record and your health.
- It’s never a good idea to take any drugs that haven’t been legally proscribed or recommended to you by a registered, practising medical professional such as a doctor or pharmacist. For further resources and support on issues around drugs, alcohol, and addiction, visit the Your SU advice safety pages.