The Narcotics Control Commission is distraught over the growing abuse of nitrous oxide by the youth in Ghana.
Known as laughing gas, this chemical compound is legitimately used for medical, commercial, and industrial purposes.
However, its sweet scent and taste have led many individuals, especially the youth, to indulge in the short-lived euphoria it provides.
Originally intended for beneficial uses, nitrous oxide has become a new drug craze. Many people use disguised methods, such as discharging the gas into special balloons before inhaling it.
Speaking on Luv FM, Samuel Yeboah, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Narcotics Control Commission, expressed concern over the increasing abuse of this chemical compound.
“Because it is usually found in the hospitals, some health professionals are abusing the chemical. Medical students have also been found to misuse them. They have been found on the market. The marketers of these products are making profits,” he said.
The chemical works by triggering the release of the hormone dopamine, which elevates the user’s mood.
However, studies have found that the chemical can have harmful effects on the heart and brain with long-term exposure.
Short-term exposure can exacerbate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
Although legal in the country, Mr. Yeboah believes that measures should be implemented to control the abuse of the chemical.
“This is within the purview of the Foods and Drugs Authority. I think they have to up their game to regulate this on the market,” he said.