What Are the Dangers of N2O?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gas that dentists use a mild anesthetic. However, some users inhale it from balloons or small canisters for a quick intense high that alters perception. Nitrous oxide sometimes produces auditory or visual hallucinations. It also induces a dreamlike mental state and leaves users wanting more, hence one of its nicknames--"hippy crack." (It's also known as whippits or laughing gas.) Like any drug, nitrous oxide use has dangers.

Loss of Motor Control

• Nitrous oxide cuts oxygen supply to the brain, causing a lightheaded feeling or dizziness when inhaled briefly. After inhaling, users can lose their balance or black out and fall. In this way, nitrous oxide has resulted in many injuries. In rare, extreme instances, it has caused death from head injury. Dentists sometimes use the gas as a general anesthetic to render patients unconscious.

Suffocation

• Nitrous oxide should only be inhaled through a mask under a dentist's care. However, if an unattended user passes out while wearing a mask and the mask is not removed promptly, he will suffocate.

Freezer Burn

• Nitrous oxide can be dispensed from the large tanks such as those for dental or medical anesthesia. Gas coming directly from a tank is extremely cold, so inhaling from the tank's nozzle, as some abusers do, may cause frostbite on the nose, lips or vocal cords. Touching the tank can result in a third-degree skin burn.

Headaches and Nausea

• Prolonged use of nitrous oxide can cause nausea and headaches. Using alcohol with nitrous oxide increases the likelihood of these side effects.

Numbness

• Prolonged overuse of nitrous oxide can cause loss of feeling to extremities, leaving numbness or tingling in hands or feet.