The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), has directed agency operatives to take immediate action against the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. This substance has been increasingly abused by individuals seeking recreational effects.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, nitrous oxide is a colorless gas primarily used by medical professionals for sedation and pain relief during minor procedures. However, it has gained popularity among young party-goers and fun-seekers in Nigeria who use it to induce intoxication or a sense of being high. The gas is often transferred into balloons and inhaled for its euphoric effects.
The decision to crack down on the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide comes after careful analysis of its harmful effects on abusers. These effects include dizziness, disorientation, headaches, light-headedness, fainting spells, hallucinations, unconsciousness, suffocation due to oxygen deprivation, and various neurological and psychiatric complications.
The NDLEA emphasizes that until further measures are implemented in consultation with stakeholders, particularly the Federal Ministry of Health, it will not hesitate to take strict action against anyone, regardless of social status, involved in the illegal sale or use of nitrous oxide. The agency urges parents, guardians, and stakeholders to remain vigilant, stay informed, and caution young individuals against experimenting with or abusing this substance, as it poses significant threats to their mental and overall well-being.