Nitrous oxide - How harmless is laughing gas really? | DW Documentary

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Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, is often considered a harmless way of getting high. In Germany, you can buy it freely over the counter. But while the gas might make you feel relaxed or elated for a few seconds, it can also lead to long-term health problems.

It has not been unusual to see young people outside bars and clubs in German cities with canisters and balloons filled with the gas. Social media is largely responsible for its recent growth in popularity, but its use as a recreational drug dates back more than two centuries.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) has more serious applications as well. The gas was first used as an anesthetic in 1844. It is also used as a foaming agent in whipped cream dispensers and to boost performance in motorsports. This edition of Close Up shows why young people are attracted to the drug, which remains legal in Germany despite its health risks.

That is all set to change. The German Cabinet has approved a bill to restrict the use of nitrous oxide on 2 July 2025. Nitrous oxide has been added to the New Psychoactive Substances Act. This means it shall not be distributed to minors and may not be used as a recreational drug. There are exceptions for commercial, industrial, and scientific applications.

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