Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide, Balloons, NOS) - Origin, Effect And Dangers - Doctor Explains

Summary

This video delves into the history and effects of nitrous oxide, a popular recreational drug known for its short-lived euphoric effects. It traces its origins to 1772, discusses its medical use as an anesthetic, and highlights the risks associated with recreational use, including potential health issues like vitamin B12 deficiency and the danger of overdose. The video offers practical tips for safer usage and emphasizes the importance of moderation.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, was first synthesized in 1772 by Joseph Priestly and quickly became popular for recreational use in Britain.
• 🎉 In the early 1800s, nitrous oxide was a fad among the British upper class and was used by quack doctors claiming it could cure various diseases.
• 🦷 The medical use of nitrous oxide as an anesthetic began with a dental demonstration by Horace Wells in 1844, which eventually gained acceptance by 1863.
• 🍰 Nitrous oxide is also used in the food industry, specifically for making whipped cream, and is sold in gas cylinders to restaurants.
• 🎈 Recreational use of nitrous oxide often involves inhaling it from balloons filled with the gas, which has seen a resurgence in popularity, especially in club and rave settings.
• 🌍 According to the 2014 Global Drug Survey, nitrous oxide is one of the most used recreational drugs worldwide, with significant percentages of Americans and Brits having used it at least once.
• 🌀 When inhaled, nitrous oxide binds to NMDA and GABA receptors in the brain, causing the release of opioids and creating feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and potentially hallucinations.
• 🚫 Despite its recreational use, nitrous oxide carries risks, including severe frostbite if inhaled directly from a pressurized container, and potential for overdose.
• 🤯 Short-term effects of nitrous oxide can include euphoria, laughter, and hallucinations, but also negative effects like headaches, dizziness, and paranoia.
• 🚑 Long-term or frequent use of nitrous oxide can lead to serious health issues such as vitamin B12 deficiency, nerve damage, memory loss, and even paralysis.
• ⚠️ Overdose from nitrous oxide is possible and can be life-threatening, especially when combined with alcohol, due to the inhibition of brain pathways that can affect breathing.

Q & A

What is nitrous oxide also known as?

Nitrous oxide is also known as NOS, laughing gas, nitro, whippets, hippie crack, bus bombs, and balloons.

Who first synthesized nitrous oxide and when?

Nitrous oxide was first synthesized in 1772 by Joseph Priestly.

How quickly did nitrous oxide become popular for recreational use?

It took only 29 years after its synthesis for nitrous oxide to become a craze at British upper-class and lavish parties.

What medical professional first used nitrous oxide as an anesthetic?

The dentist Horace Wells first demonstrated the use of nitrous oxide as an anesthetic in December 1844.

What are the medical uses of nitrous oxide today?

Today, nitrous oxide is used as an anesthetic and an anxiolytic, reducing anxiety during inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures.

What is the chemical structure of nitrous oxide?

The chemical structure of nitrous oxide is N2O.

How is nitrous oxide typically inhaled for recreational use?

For recreational use, nitrous oxide is inhaled directly from a canister or balloon, known as a whippet.

What are some of the short-term effects of nitrous oxide use?

Short-term effects of nitrous oxide use can include euphoria, relaxation, calmness, giggles, laughter, hallucinations, headache, dizziness, numbness, sedation, uncoordinated movements, blurred vision, confusion, sweating, fatigue, and feelings of paranoia.

What are the potential long-term health risks associated with nitrous oxide use?

Long-term use of nitrous oxide can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, nerve damage, persistent numbness and tingling, anemia, memory loss, ringing in the ears, incontinence, spasms, birth defects if used during pregnancy, depression, and psychosis.

What are some practical tips to reduce the risk of health problems associated with nitrous oxide use?

Practical tips include using nitrous oxide in a balloon for easier consumption control, not using it alone or in isolated areas, avoiding plastic bags over the head, ensuring no contact with flames or cigarettes if using a large tank, not combining it with alcohol or other drugs, and not standing or dancing while inhaling from a balloon to reduce the risk of passing out.

What is the risk of overdose when using nitrous oxide?

Overdose from nitrous oxide is possible due to its difficulty in dosing, especially when used in balloons or canisters, leading to lowered blood pressure, loss of consciousness, accidents, and potential suffocation from lack of oxygen due to hypoxia.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 The Origins and Recreational Use of Nitrous Oxide

This paragraph delves into the history of nitrous oxide, first synthesized in 1772 by Joseph Priestly. It quickly gained popularity as a recreational substance in the late 18th century, despite being promoted by quacks for dubious medical benefits. As scientific methods advanced, the medical community began to question its efficacy, but it eventually found a legitimate use as an anesthetic in the mid-19th century. The paragraph also touches on nitrous oxide's modern recreational use, particularly in the context of raves and clubs, where it's often inhaled from balloons, making it one of the most commonly used recreational drugs worldwide.

05:02

🌡️ Effects and Risks of Nitrous Oxide Use

The second paragraph explores the physiological effects of nitrous oxide, explaining how it binds to receptors in the central nervous system, leading to feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and potential hallucinations. It also discusses the negative side effects, which can include headaches, dizziness, and paranoia. The paragraph warns of the risks associated with long-term use, such as vitamin B12 deficiency leading to nerve damage, and the potential for overdose, which can result in unconsciousness and hypoxia. It emphasizes the importance of moderation and provides practical tips for safer use, including using balloons for easier dosage control and avoiding use in dangerous or isolated areas.

10:03

📢 Conclusion and Call to Action

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, summarizing the key points about nitrous oxide and urging viewers to stay safe and healthy. It invites viewers to engage with the content by asking questions in the comments and encourages them to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for new videos. The host also promotes additional content on social media platforms and expresses gratitude for the viewers' time and support.

Keywords

💡Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as 'laughing gas,' is a chemical compound with the formula N2O. In the video, it is discussed as both a recreational drug and a medical anesthetic. It is highlighted for its dual use in parties and raves, as well as its role in medical procedures, such as dental surgeries, where it is used to reduce pain and anxiety.

💡Recreational Use

Recreational use refers to the consumption of substances, like nitrous oxide, for pleasure or thrill rather than for medical or therapeutic purposes. The video describes how nitrous oxide is inhaled from balloons or canisters for its short-lived euphoric effects, which is a popular practice in raves and parties.

💡Anesthetic

An anesthetic is a substance that causes a loss of sensation, especially pain. The script explains that nitrous oxide is used as an anesthetic in medical settings to induce insensitivity to pain during surgeries and dental procedures, marking its legitimate and beneficial use in healthcare.

💡Euphoria

Euphoria is a feeling of intense happiness or excitement. The video mentions that one of the short-term effects of recreational nitrous oxide use is a sense of euphoria, which contributes to its appeal among partygoers and rave attendees.

💡NMDA Receptor

The NMDA receptor is a type of glutamate receptor found in the central nervous system and is associated with memory and learning. The video explains that nitrous oxide binds to the NMDA receptor, which contributes to its anesthetic effects and the release of opioids in the body.

💡GABA Receptor

The GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor is involved in reducing neuronal excitability and producing a calming effect. The script describes how nitrous oxide can bind to the GABA receptor, leading to its anxiety-reducing properties.

💡Long-term Health Effects

Long-term health effects refer to the consequences that can occur from the prolonged use of a substance. The video discusses the potential for nitrous oxide to cause serious health issues such as vitamin B12 deficiency, nerve damage, and memory loss when used frequently or in combination with other substances.

💡Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition that can result from inadequate intake or absorption of vitamin B12, which is crucial for nerve function and the production of red blood cells. The script warns that long-term use of nitrous oxide can lead to this deficiency, potentially causing nerve damage.

💡Overdose

An overdose occurs when a harmful or lethal dose of a substance is ingested. The video explains the risks of overdosing on nitrous oxide due to its difficulty in dosing accurately, especially when used in balloons, and the potential for severe health consequences, including hypoxia and unconsciousness.

💡Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. The script mentions hypoxia as a possible outcome of nitrous oxide overdose, where the lack of oxygen can lead to unconsciousness and accidents.

💡Moderation

Moderation refers to the practice of using something in a limited or reasonable amount to avoid negative consequences. The video concludes with practical tips, emphasizing the importance of moderation in using nitrous oxide to reduce the risk of serious health problems.

Highlights

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, was first synthesized in 1772 by Joseph Priestly.

It gained recreational popularity in Britain by 1799, being used in high society parties.

Quack solvers falsely claimed nitrous oxide could cure various diseases, leading to many deaths.

Nitrous oxide was first used as an anesthetic by a dentist, Horace Wells, in 1844.

By 1863, nitrous oxide became widely accepted for medical use, particularly in dentistry.

Today, nitrous oxide is used as an anesthetic and anxiolytic in medical procedures.

Its recreational use has surged due to its availability in whipped cream dispensers and balloons.

Nitrous oxide is the second most used recreational drug after cannabis, according to the 2014 Global Drug Survey.

Long-term use of nitrous oxide can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and serious nerve damage.

Frequent use may cause anemia, memory loss, and other health issues, including effects on the immune system.

Nitrous oxide binds to NMDA and GABA receptors in the brain, causing a release of opioids and anxiety reduction.

Overdose is possible with nitrous oxide, potentially leading to unconsciousness and hypoxia.

Combining nitrous oxide with alcohol increases the risk of serious health complications.

Practical tips are provided to reduce the risk of health problems associated with nitrous oxide use.

The video offers a comprehensive look at the history, effects, and risks of nitrous oxide use.

Nitrous oxide's recreational use is widespread in raves and parties, with a high likelihood of use among attendees.

The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of moderation and safety when considering drug use.

Transcripts

what would you answer me if I would ask

you to mention the most popular illicit

drugs or maybe you would mention cocaine

speed or Ecstasy but what about nitrous

oxide does that ring a bell well maybe

not but I guess you know what it is it's

the chemical name of the substance in

those blooms people are inhaling during

a rave ah

cheap fun mostly legal and it only lasts

a few seconds so what could go wrong

well make sure to watch the whole video

and you will find out in today's video

we will cover its origin we will cover

its effect on your body and on your

long-term health so make sure to watch

the whole video so you don't miss any

important information as this video is

meant to provide you with medical

evidence medical arguments so you can

make healthier decisions sit back relax

and let's get started

so let's start at the beginning the

origin story of nitrous oxide which is a

lot older than you might think it was

for the first time synthesized in 1772

by a guy named Joseph Priestly and it

took us Humanity only 29 years to

explore its recreational Properties by

17.99 it was the latest craze for the

British up close

and picture them and lavish parties

consuming the nitrous oxide and silicon

bags and a powered from that era

described its usage as like returning

from a walk in the snow into a warm room

and to make matters even worse this gas

also became popular among Quark solvers

which were fake doctors they climbed all

kinds of medical properties could cure

blood throat or lung diseases and

unfortunately it were just death claims

in the years that followed doctors and

scientists started to develop scientific

methods to examine the actual

effectiveness of medicines and the

previously claimed medical properties of

nitrous oxide seemed unpaste however as

you might know in more recent times

nitrous oxide got a place in the medical

world namely as an anesthetic it was

first used by the dentist or as Wells

who demonstrated it could cause

insensitivity to pain during a dental

extraction in December 1844 4. at first

the reactions of dentists were full

criticism and they were doubtful though

with time more evidence was gathered and

the method of usage was approved and by

1863 it had come into General use today

nitrous oxide is used as an aesthetic

and an axiolytic which is a drug that

can be used to reduce anxiety during an

inpatient and outpatient surgical

procedure and beside its implementation

in the medical world it was found that

nitrous oxide was also very handy to

make whipped cream it could be used to

prepare whipped cream and for that

purpose it is sold in gas cylinders to

restaurants and of course these gas

cylinders made its recreational use

explode again as they are cheap

available and legal in most countries

that's a few which got clubbing or visit

the Rave once in a while have seen its

popularity there this drug is often sold

in balloons filled with nitrous oxide

altogether this makes nitric oxide

besides cannabis the most used

recreational drug in the world in 2014

Global Drug survey found that about 29.4

percent of all Americans and 38.6 of all

Brits have to use nitric oxide at least

once in a life this is a lot of people

but its numbers get even more extreme if

you find someone who went to a rave or a

party this last month there's a 40 to 80

percent chance that he or she has used

nitrous oxide which brings us to the

drug itself nitrous oxide is also known

as NOS laughing gas nitro nags whippet

hippie crack bus bombs and balloons as

mentioned it's a chemical compound with

the structure N2 o and at room

temperature it's gas it's not flammable

and it has a slightly sweet smell and

taste for recreational use the gas comes

and can faster or cylinder called

whippet these contain about 8 grams of

nitrous oxide or the gas comes in a big

tank these are used to fill balloons or

whipped cream dispensers from there the

gas is inhaled directly from the

dispenser or from the balloon this is

necessary because the gas can get very

cold under extreme pressure when it

access the canister or the thing

inhaling it directly from the tank could

be very dangerous because it could cause

a severe frostbite of your throat mouth

and lungs when you're inhaling the gas

from the balloon it enters through your

mouth into your lungs there it is

absorbed by your alveoli which normally

exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide

during the process of breathing in and

breeding out I hear alveoli are able to

do this almost instantly that is why

nitrous oxide lurks almost immediately

as well and its effects last for about

one to two minutes from your lungs

nitrous oxide and through your

bloodstream and direct binds to milk

receptors in your central nervous system

its anesthetic effects come from binding

to the nmda receptor which causes your

body to release opioids these cause a

similar effect as the drugs morphine

would cause nitrous oxide can also bind

to the Gaba receptor which has an

inhibiting effect on most of the brain

artways creating an anxiety reducing and

calming effect nitrous oxide also

stimulates your sympathetic nerve system

this causes your blood pressure to rise

increases the output of your heart

increases your intracranial brain

pressure as well as the blood flow to

your brain now you might wonder what are

the effects of nitrous oxide well this

depends it depends on your tolerance for

it depends on the amount you'd take the

depends on your size your weight and if

you combine it with any other drugs here

it is also important to mention that

there is no completely safe level of

nitrous oxide use using it always

carries risks so take that the

previously mentioned factors into

consideration however when using it the

potential of positive short-term effects

are feelings of euphoria relaxation and

calmness giggles and laughter and

hallucinations where you hear or see

things which aren't really there

unfortunately it can also cause some

negative effects like a severe headache

dizziness numbness of your body sedation

uncoordinated movements blurred vision

confusion sweating fatigue feelings of

paranoia and it can prevent you from

thinking straight beside these

short-term effects of nitrous oxide

long-term use especially when it's

frequent or combined with other drugs

can cause serious health complaints can

lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency which

could cause serious nerve damage this

can lead to persistent numbness and

tingling in your body mostly with your

hand and your feet it can be painful

cause problems with walking driving and

the usage of your hands extreme cases

can even lead to the development of a

paralysis frequent usage can also lead

to specific type of anemia where your

body stops making a certain white blood

cell this can have an impact on your

immune system other common health

problems caused by the frequent and

long-term use of nitrous oxide could be

memory loss ringing sound in your ears

incontinence spasms potential bird

effects if you use it when pregnant the

depression and a psychosis here it is

important to mention that it is possible

to overdose from using nitrous oxide and

this is partly due to the fact that it's

very hard to dose and should use it in

balloons or canisters and you do not

exactly know how much nitrous oxide you

have consumed this is part of the risk

when you have used too much you're at

risk for a lower blood pressure

potentially causing you to lose

Consciousness falling and having an

accident and or suffocating from the

lack of oxygen due to hypoxia this is a

real risk which could be further

increase if you combine nitrous oxide

with alcohol as both activate the Gaba

receptor as mentioned activating Gaba

leads to an inhibition of most brain

Pathways in extreme cases this could

lead to the inhibition of your breeding

reflex this can be a life-threatening

medical emergency so please if you see

any of these symptoms and anyone call

your doctor call 9-1-1 call on ambulance

as this can save a life lastly some

practical tips which might help you to

reduce your risk on serious health

problems as with anything in life

moderation is key the first tip is to

always use nitrous oxide in a balloon

this will make it easier to know how

much you have consumed and it will

prevent these frostbite symptoms

furthermore it's also advised to not use

alone or in a dangerous or isolated area

don't use a plastic bag over your head

or impeach your breathing in any way if

you have a big tank with nitrous oxide

make sure that it does not come into

contact with any Flames or with

cigarettes as it might explode don't

combine it with alcohol or any other

drugs and don't stand or dance while

inhaling from a balloon as this might

increase your risk for passing out now I

hope this video provided you with

anything you needed to know on nitrous

oxide if you have any questions let me

know in the comment section and I will

do my best to answer each and every one

of them for those of you that are still

interested in learning more I made a

playlist with more videos on the list of

drugs check it out in the description

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much for watching I'll see you next week

with a new awesome video stay safe stay

healthy bye bye

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thank you foreign

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