Nitrous Oxide Usage in the Netherlands
By Ornella Durand | Metro City | February 7, 2022
Cover Illustration: Pink and blue smoke. Ruvim Noga / Unsplash
Metro reporter Ornella Durand, dives into the topic of nitrous oxide usage in the Netherlands by examining the general perception of this drug, its related risks, and a potential ban being discussed by the Dutch government.
The Netherlands has seen a surge in the use of nitrous oxide – commonly referred to as laughing gas – according to The Dutch Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (TRIMBOS), The institute published statistics demonstrating that over 37% of party-goers in the country use nitrous oxide regularly, with young adults being the most likely subgroup to do so. Research suggests that stressful situations like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic increase the likelihood of substance use.
Recent research uncovering the grave long-term risks associated with nitrous oxide use makes these numbers cause for alarm. Related dangers include severe spinal damage with the potential of paralysis, as found by neurologists studying the prolonged use of the drug. Neurologist Marieke van Oijen states that “persons making regular use of laughing gas incur a real risk of severely damaging their nervous system”, and insists that these effects can be long-term.
One interviewee whose laughing gas experience left his spinal cord with serious damage told Volkskrant that “a ban on laughing gas will certainly not help. Anything illegal is attractive, and the cars bringing the tanks are regular passenger cars. You can hardly recognize them”. For him awareness of the drug’s dangers is key in helping reduce casualties. The problem lies partially in the fact that many users see the drug as benign and rather harmless, with some barely considering it a drug. Until September 2019, when the municipality of Amsterdam prohibited the sale of nitrous oxide in streets and festivals, many clubs and festivals continued to sell laughing gas to attendees for relatively low prices. This practice and the easy availability of the substance have likely contributed to the belief that laughing gas is neither harmful nor dangerous.
A survey conducted by Team Alert with 193 young people found that many used nitrous oxide while driving their cars, and saw little to no risk involved. In fact, 47% of participants claimed to believe that nitrous oxide did not affect their driving style. These observations starkly contrast the 960 driving incidents in the first half of 2019 alone in which laughing gas was suspected to have played a role.
Scientifically speaking, laughing gas usage hinders the proper assimilation and use of vitamin B12 in one’s body – the latter is responsible for red blood cell production and the proper functioning of the nervous system. This disruption of crucial bodily functions can result in anemia and nerve damage in addition to the spinal injury mentioned above.
While damage to the nervous system is one of the most severe risks associated with nitrous oxide consumption, the risks of the drug go beyond this. A non-exhaustive list of effects includes, but is not limited to, chest pain, visual disturbances – which can lead to traffic accidents – as well as confusion and anxiety. Furthermore, the cultural connection between laughing gas and other forms of party-drugs and alcohol increases these dangers.
On top of the health risks involved, nitrous oxide is dangerous due to its accessible price point. For a tank of two kilograms, which can fill roughly 250 balloons (a balloon being the vessel from which nitrous gas is taken in), the buyer would pay around €60 in 2019. The Dutch Institute of Mental Health and Addiction claims that the low price point encourages users to purchase the larger sizes of the cans, as opposed to the smaller canisters. This in turn results in intakes of higher dosage.
Currently, the Dutch Commodities Act permits the recreational use of laughing gas. However, the government plans to amend the Opium Act (Opiumwetbesluit). The plan is set to place nitrous oxide on list II of the Act. This amendment would prohibit the production, trade, and possession of laughing gas, rendering recreational use fully prohibited too.
While it is likely the Dutch government’s plan to prohibit nitrous oxide will decrease its availability and access, it appears that efforts to educate users on the risks involved will truly make a difference in its consumption among the young population.
Ornella Durand is a student at the University of Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
