The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has initiated a nationwide crackdown on the sale and use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas.”
The Chairman of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), issued the order in response to the increasing recreational use of the gas as a drug, leading to a surge in demand.
Nitrous oxide, also referred to as “N20,” is a colorless gas primarily used by dentists and medical professionals for sedation and pain relief during minor medical procedures. However, due to its misuse, the NDLEA has decided to take firm action against those involved.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, anyone caught with the substance will face severe consequences.
The NDLEA CEO has directed all commands and formations to immediately clamp down on the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide.
The gas is often transferred from its containers into balloons and inhaled by young party-goers or fun-seekers to experience intoxication or a “high.”
The decision to crack down on the illegal sale and usage of nitrous oxide stems from the analysis of its adverse effects on abusers.
These effects include dizziness, disorientation, headaches, lightheadedness, fainting spells, hallucinations, unconsciousness, suffocation due to lack of oxygen, and various neurological complications, particularly psychiatric symptoms.
While the NDLEA collaborates with other stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, to develop comprehensive measures to combat this menace, the agency is determined to take swift action against anyone, regardless of social status, involved in the illegal sale or use of nitrous oxide. This firm stance is taken in the interest of public health.
Chairman Marwa has urged parents, guardians, and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and warn young individuals against experimenting with or abusing this substance. He emphasized that nitrous oxide poses a significant threat to users’ mental and overall well-being.