Confusion as laughing gas is sold openly

Despite the Hanoi People’s Committee’s official document banning students from using laughing gas because of its harmful effects, many young people are using laughing gas as a hobby. In particular, laughing gas is openly sold in many cafes and bars.

Public sale

According to the reporter's records, in Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung districts, it is not difficult to see coffee shops, bars, karaoke bars where young people gather in groups around colorful laughing balloons. Many shops openly display laughing balloons in front of the door, on the menu, and even run public advertisements on social networks to attract customers to the shop.

Laughing gas is openly advertised by coffee shops on social networks.

Mr. Hoang Lam, owner of a laughing gas cafe near Hanoi Cathedral, said that although it has only recently appeared in Vietnam, this type of “happy balloon” is popular with many young people. The price of each balloon ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 VND/ball, depending on the size. According to Mr. Lam, in bars or karaoke bars, the price is higher, from 100,000 to 200,000 VND/ball.

“Selling this is more profitable than drinks, because addicts usually have to smoke 2-3 berries to get high. Once they become regular customers, they will smoke quite regularly,” said Mr. Lam.

When asked about Hanoi banning students from using laughing gas, Mr. Lam laughed and said: “If anyone has money and wants to play laughing gas, they can sell it. No one is forcing them to bring their ID card to see their age. Because of their conscience, if they see that the child is too young to buy, they will not sell it. But children grow up so fast that it is difficult to guess their age.”

In Mr. Lam's coffee shop, there are many groups of young people using laughing gas in various bright colors, many of them are wearing high school uniforms.

Many young people, after holding the balloon and inhaling a few breaths, started laughing loudly. A young person wearing high school uniform put his mouth to the balloon and took a long breath, then blew back into the balloon, inhaling several times in a row. After a while, the whole group started to feel “high”, their mouths continuously emitting loud laughter, shaking their heads to the soft music in the shop.

Thai Yen, a young person who uses laughing gas in Hanoi, said: Inhaling laughing gas makes people feel high, floating above the ground, laughing endlessly. In terms of high level, it is even higher than shisha, and the price is cheaper, so it is popular with many young people.

“In general, smoking is fun but addictive. I have smoked cigarettes for 5 years and am not as addicted as laughing gas, even though I have only inhaled it for a few months, sometimes 30-40 times a week,” Yen said.

Many young people do not know where laughing gas comes from and think that inhaling it is fun and does not affect their health. “At first, I did not dare to inhale it, but when I saw my friends using it without any problems, I tried it. Inhaling it is more fun, but if I inhale too much, I get headaches and nausea. Now, when I go out to drink coffee or lemon tea without inhaling it, I feel something is missing,” said Dieu Linh, a high school student in Hanoi.

According to Mr. Hoang, the owner of a laughing gas cafe on Ta Hien Street, to stimulate the demand for laughing gas among young people, the cafe runs daily advertisements on social networks to introduce the address, flavors, and prices.

In addition, on holidays and weekends, the restaurant will have promotions such as sucking balloons and getting a fruit plate, sucking 2 balloons and getting 1 free. The first balloon is free for customers who book a table in advance or come in large groups.

“This laughing gas is mainly used by teenagers, older groups usually use shisha. Every day the shop consumes 500-600 balloons. The city prohibits students from using it, but the customers at the shop are mainly high school students,” said Mr. Hoang.

Risk of disordernerve

According to a doctor at the 108 Central Military Hospital, playing laughing gas is essentially inhaling nitrous oxide.₂O into the body. Laughing gas is Nitrous Oxide gas with the chemical formula N₂O. This gas is used in medicine as a pain reliever, anesthetic, has a slightly sweet taste. After the user inhales it, it creates a happy effect, a feeling of euphoria.

“Regular use of “laughing gas” can cause disorders such as staggering; mood disorders; memory disorders; sleep disorders and heart rhythm disorders, hypotension; anemia, B12 deficiency. If you overdose on laughing gas N₂“O will lead to movement disorders, cognitive impairment or convulsions. Inhaling too much will cause vomiting, metabolic disorders and addiction,” said the doctor.

At a working session with the Ba Dinh District Party Committee, Hanoi in early 2017, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai said that laughing gas creates hallucinations for users and is more dangerous when the majority of users are teenagers. Expressing concern about the harmful effects of laughing gas on young people, Mr. Hoang Trung Hai assigned the Hanoi People's Committee, the Department of Health, and the City Police to soon have solutions to the purchase and use of laughing gas.

Hanoi has asked the Department of Education and Training to direct schools to strictly prohibit students from using “laughing gas” and to educate parents and students about its harmful effects. In addition, the Hanoi People’s Committee also asked the Department of Industry and Trade to inspect and control the market for production and trading of N2 gas.₂O inflate balloons in the area, strictly handle violations.

According to Dantri