Laughing gas

[ciphergoth]

Is recreational use of N₂O dangerous? An interesting debate in Ben Goldacre's Bad Science blog. Ben's article on the MHRA sinking their credibility by talking obvious rubbish is good value as always, but the comments underneath address the more general question of recreational N₂O and safety. See comments 8, 9, 14, 17 (mine), 18, 19, 21 (mine), and 23 in particular.

Comments

[battlekitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pointing out the comments - I'd read the article (and linked to it myself) earlier, but don't often read further down (Depends if I have anything to do...)

[zotz]

I wasn't actually so sure it was nonsense - Nitrous struck me as being very like my memories of helium (except without the squeaky voice, obviously). I'd have to do a comparison separated by less than two decades to be sure - my memories are of the helium taking rather longer to work, which would imply a pharmacological action, but I'm not entirely sure.

[seph-hazard.livejournal.com]

I am fast getting the impression that this is a little like someone saying NEWSFLASH: HOLDING YOUR BREATH IS BAD FOR YOU. I've always assumed that it was fairly safe, mostly because I've never fainted as a result of it-and you wouldn't believe how often and easily I faint. Anything can make me pass out.

I've friended you, by the way, because I thought it was about bloody time I did. [grin] Welcome!

[octal.livejournal.com]

There's a cost/benefit thing, though.

Using other things is dangerous, too, but I think the benefits are worth the risks.

I really like n2o. I wish I knew if airfreighting whippets was safe...it's basically 3x the US price here to get ISI ($0.75/charger). Sigh.