The Halloween holiday, when many party, is just a week away. Even before the celebration, a total of 932 calls have been received by the Poison Information Centre so far this year regarding laughing gas, according to a press release from the Medical Products Agency. The Poison Information Centre has also been involved in the hospital care of 441 people who have experienced discomfort after using laughing gas.
This is a significant increase compared to ten years ago, when the centre received a total of 18 calls about laughing gas, and 10 that led to hospital care.
"This is an alarming trend. Repeated use in particular can lead to serious health risks. In many of the calls from healthcare providers or where we recommend hospital care, nerve damage is a common problem," says Johanna Nordmark Grass, chief physician at the Poison Information Centre, according to the press release.
It has become increasingly common to use laughing gas as an intoxicant, where it is primarily young adults between 20-30 years old who inhale the gas and get injured. Even younger people are trying laughing gas.
Laughing gas is used in healthcare, including during childbirth.
Short-term use can lead to fainting or frostbite when inhaled directly from the tube. In the long term, laughing gas depletes vitamin B12, which can lead to nerve damage, blood clots, and psychoses.
Source: Poison Information Centre
