Nghe An education sector takes action to prevent the sale and use of laughing gas

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.

On the morning of March 5, Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training said that on March 4, the Department issued Official Dispatch No. 277/SGD&DT on propaganda on preventing and combating the trade, storage, and use of laughing gas.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training affirmed that the Department will strictly handle officials, teachers and students who buy, sell and use laughing gas. Photo: Pham Bang

According to the Department of Education and Training, in recent times, in Nghe An province, there has been a situation of using laughing gas, which is dangerous to health, life and ability to perceive and control behavior, especially among young people in general and students in particular.

When using laughing gas, it will cause hallucinations and loss of control of behavior. If used in overdose or for a long time, it will be dangerous to the user's life and health such as suffocation, anemia, dizziness, paralysis of limbs, affecting the cardiovascular system, nervous system, easily leading to depression and risk of death.

“For students, because they are young, the effects are even more dangerous. Using laughing gas will cause them to hallucinate, lose their mental and physical strength, affecting their learning and daily activities. Their nerves are still weak, so the consequences later will be more severe,” said Mr. Hoan.

Many young people entering a bar were caught inhaling laughing gas by Vinh City Police. Photo: Nghe An Police

Currently, the Nghe An education sector has not discovered or been notified of any student violations, but in the face of the dangers of laughing gas, the Department requires that upon receiving the document, leaders of departments and schools must organize propaganda for all teachers and students in many forms to increase persuasion.

Official dispatch of the Department of Education and Training on propaganda, prevention and control of harmful effects of laughing gas. Photo: PB

The Department of Education and Training also requires schools to organize a commitment for staff, teachers, employees and students not to buy, sell, store or use laughing gas. At the same time, violations will be strictly handled.

In addition to propaganda work, the Department also requires departments and units to strengthen coordination and collaboration with local authorities and functional agencies, step up propaganda work, detect, prevent and handle the buying, selling, producing and using of laughing gas.

Laughing gas is actually a normal balloon, filled with laughing gas, the chemical name is Dinitrogen monoxide or nitrous oxide, a chemical compound with the formula N₂O. This is a gas in the list of chemicals restricted from production and trading in industry and is indicated for use in some medical fields.

The buyer will hold the balloon to inhale, when the air runs out the balloon will deflate. The nitrous oxide gas spreads, seeps into the body and creates hallucinations, making the user laugh.

People who use laughing gas for the first time can have seizures, cardiovascular collapse can lead to death. Long-term use leads to psychosis, such as hallucinations, paranoia, loss of behavioral control, dementia, depression and cancer. The cause is that laughing gas has long-term effects that damage central nervous system cells.