Laughing gas is destroying a part of Nghe An youth
(Baonghean.vn) - The trend of using laughing gas as a "strange dish" among young people in Nghe An province is increasing. This is an alarming situation for the health, life and ability to perceive and control the behavior of young people.
Laughing gas… people cry
On February 1, 2019, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 806 on promoting the prevention and control of illegal production, trading and use of laughing gas in the area.
The document stated that recently, the province has seen the use of laughing gas, which is harmful to health, life, and the ability to perceive and control behavior, especially among young people. Although the use of laughing gas has not caused major consequences in the province, there have been cases with particularly serious consequences in other provinces and cities.
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| Many young people entering a bar were caught inhaling laughing gas by Vinh City Police. Photo: Nghe An Police |
On December 24, 2018, the Special Forces Team, Department of Administrative Management of Social Order discovered two subjects, Nguyen Tuan Anh and Dang Ba Thao (both 25 years old and residing in Dong Vinh Ward, Vinh City) were buying and selling N gas.20. Upon inspection, the subjects were unable to present business licenses and legal documents related to the shipment. The seized exhibits were 25 N gas cylinders.20 and nearly 4,000 rubber balls.
In many bars, restaurants, etc., laughing gas is sold openly for only a few tens of thousands of VND/ball and has almost become an indispensable part of many young people's parties.
Recently, on January 31, 2019, the Economic Police Team (Vinh City Police) in coordination with Hung Binh Ward Police suddenly raided a bar located at 2 Le Hong Phong Street (Vinh City) and discovered dozens of young men and women dancing to extremely loud music, accompanied by a lot of Shisha smoke, many young men and women were intoxicated and carefree inhaling laughing gas. Checking the warehouse at the bar, the authorities also discovered 2 gas cylinders to inflate "laughing gas" and 170 rubber balloons (unused).
To strengthen the prevention and control of the harmful effects of using laughing gas, the People's Committee of Nghe An province requires agencies, units and localities to step up propaganda and dissemination of the harmful effects of using laughing gas; production, transportation, storage, trading of laughing gas and sanctions to raise awareness of compliance of businesses and people, especially businesses with conditions on security and order and the subjects are youth, teenagers and students.
Direct the police forces of units and localities to strengthen the work of grasping the situation, strictly managing establishments showing signs of production, business, trading and organizing the use of laughing gas. Conduct inspections and strictly handle business establishments with conditions on security and order, coffee shops, karaoke bars, dance clubs, entertainment areas that produce, store, trade, organize the use of laughing gas...
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| Many bars, cafes, and karaoke bars sell laughing gas to attract young people. Photo: Nghe An Police |
When it comes to laughing gas, many people are probably unfamiliar. But for young people, laughing gas is becoming a trend, a "strange dish" every time you go out to coffee shops, bars, karaoke. Laughing gas is actually normal balloons, filled with laughing gas, the chemical name is dinitrogen monoxide or nitrous oxide, a chemical compound with the formula N2O.
The buyer will hold the balloon to inhale, when the air runs out, the balloon will deflate. Nitrous oxide gas spreads, penetrates the body, creating a feeling of excitement, creating a funny illusion for the user. Laughing gas makes the user feel excited, a funny illusion, so it is popular with young people when going to bars and cafes to increase the attractiveness and fun at parties.
Having used laughing gas, Nguyen Vu T. (living in Vinh City) said that when he inhaled laughing gas, he felt very happy and excited. But after returning home, he felt tired and his mind was not clear.
Prevention is not effective yet
In the dispatch, the People's Committee of Nghe An province also assessed the current management of N gas distillation and trading activities.20 of some authorities have not really paid due attention. Production, trading and use of laughing gas still occur a lot, but inspection, detection and handling still face many difficulties, the effectiveness of prevention and combat work is still limited.
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| 25 N gas cylinders2O was arrested by Vinh City Police. Photo: HQ |
According to the provincial police leader, the unit has directed the police of units and localities to take action, especially in coordination with the market management force and fire police, to strengthen inspection and detection of N gas selling points.2O to take serious measures.
However, according to the law, N gas2O is not a drug or a precursor and is not covered by the Convention on Narcotic Drugs. N2 gas2O is on the list of chemicals restricted from production and trading in the industrial sector, the main responsibility is the Department of Chemicals, Ministry of Industry and Trade.
According to Nghe An Police, the law does not prohibit individuals from producing and trading in N gas.2O because this is a gas in the list of chemicals with restricted production and trading in the industrial sector and is indicated for use in some medical fields.
Legal regulations and sanctions for violations by establishments and individuals trading in N gas2O is not clear, only administrative handling, the level of handling is still light and not deterrent. In addition, the subjects of illegal business, storage and use of "laughing gas" have changed their method of operation, consumption to bars, dance clubs, even houses... to cope with inspections by authorities.
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| The bar's warehouse has many N02 gas cylinders. Photo: Nghe An Police |
To improve the effectiveness of handling violations of establishments and individuals trading in N gas.2O, should put the N gas business2O is included in the list of conditional business goods for management and application of appropriate sanctions. There should be revolutionary measures for establishments that have been administratively sanctioned and re-offend, such as revoking their business licenses.
