Close-up of young people in Nghe An province intoxicated by nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
(Baonghean.vn) - At many bars and karaoke venues in Vinh City, it's easy to spot young men and women swaying to the music, holding balloons filled with nitrous oxide (N2O), and inhaling it intoxicatingly. They are all very young...
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| Laughing gas has become a trend, an indispensable "novelty" for many young people at birthdays and anniversaries. They go to bars just to satisfy their craving for laughing gas. |
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| Interestingly, the proportion of girls participating in nitrous oxide use is higher than that of boys. These girls are stylishly dressed, well-groomed, and only in their early twenties; some look very young, yet they don't hesitate to inhale nitrous oxide in crowded places. |
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| Laughing gas is essentially a regular balloon that has been inflated with laughing gas, chemically known as dinitrogen monoxide or nitrous oxide, a chemical compound with the formula N.2Nitrous oxide gas, when absorbed into the body, creates a feeling of exhilaration and hallucinations that induce laughter in the user. Laughing gas makes users feel excited, experience euphoric hallucinations, and enhances their attractiveness and enjoyment at parties. |
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| However, first-time users of nitrous oxide may experience seizures and cardiovascular collapse, which can be fatal. Long-term use can lead to psychosis, such as hallucinations, paranoia, loss of behavioral control, dementia, depression, and cancer. This is because the long-term effects of nitrous oxide damage central nervous system cells. |
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| Nitrogen gas2Laughing gas is not a narcotic, but it has addictive properties and harmful effects similar to drugs. Users of laughing gas after a few uses begin to feel addicted and want to continue using it. |
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| When using nitrous oxide excessively, and feeling that it's not enough, they may switch to using stronger drugs. |
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| Besides inhaling nitrous oxide, many young people also use shisha when socializing at bars. According to current regulations, those who use nitrous oxide and shisha are not yet being prosecuted. |
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| Due to nitrogen gas2Nitrogen (N2) is easily distilled and processed, so many people take advantage of this to produce this gas. Each laughing gas balloon, after being filled with N2 gas, contains the gas.20 will be sold for 50-80 thousand VND per cylinder. Each cylinder of N gas will be sold for 50-80 thousand VND.2One can inflate approximately 170 balloons filled with laughing gas, therefore the profits earned by those selling laughing gas are enormous. The photo shows Vinh City police discovering many people using laughing gas in a bar on Le Hong Phong Street, Vinh City. |
