West Belfast Police have issued a warning about the dangers of laughing gas after finding three young people with large canisters of the chemical compound last night. Nitrous oxide - to use its correct name - can make you fall unconscious and suffocate from a lack of oxygen if inhaled and, mixing it with alcohol or other drugs, also increases the threat of serious consequences to the human body.
Officers have pointed out that anybody using it should "STOP immediately" and, on the official Police West Belfast Twitter account @PSNIBelfastW, added in a 9.42pm post on Saturday evening: "Nitrous oxide is extremely dangerous if misused. Please don’t inhale nitrous oxide – it could kill you."
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The new of the three youngsters being found in possession of canisters by police comes after a man was allegedly "caught selling nitrous oxide" to youths at North Down beach last month. Belfast Live also reported earlier this month on the story of Kelly Donaldson who was left paralysed by nitrous oxide binges.
Kelly, after inhaling laughing gas through balloons with her friends at weekends, soon developed a habit that escalated into three-day binges that left the 25-year-old vomiting for days. She subsequently quit balloons in 2020.
But, in January of this year, was told that her excessive use of nitrous oxide had led to a disc bulge in her lower back, which has left her unable to walk.
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