Bradford doctor's warning to laughing gas users

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is one of the most commonly used drugs for 16 to 24-year-olds

A doctor has warned people who use nitrous oxide as a drug risk becoming paraplegic, incontinent and psychotic.

Dr Sam Khan said Bradford Royal Infirmary was treating three or four people a week who had taken the drug.

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or NOS, has become one of the most commonly used recreational drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds.

Possession of nitrous oxide for drug use was made a criminal offence in November.

Dr Khan is an acute medicine consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary

Dr Khan said one teenage boy had to be carried into hospital by his parents because he could no longer walk after taking the drug.

"At one point, we were seeing that many that we had to create a whole new pathway for these patients," Dr Khan said.

"We were admitting them to have loads of investigations and actually, as soon as you identify it's nitrous oxide, there's quite a simple management plan for these patients.

"Instead of bringing them in and having them using up hospital beds, if they've got mild symptoms you just need to tell them to stop using it."

Nitrous oxide is legally used as a painkiller in medicine and dentistry. It is also used in whipped cream.

When used as a recreational drug, it causes short-term euphoria but can damage the nervous system.

Empty gas canisters are a common sight by the side of the road

According to drugs information website Frank, low levels of nitrous oxide use result in severe headaches, dizziness, an inability to think straight and short-lived but intense feelings of paranoia.

Announcing the ban on possessing laughing gas for its psychoactive effects in November, Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp said nitrous oxide abuse was dangerous to people's health.

Now categorised as a class C drug, possession carries a sentence of up to two years in prison.

Those found to be supplying or producing it could be jailed for up to 14 years.

West Yorkshire Police said there have been 15 arrests for supply and possession of nitrous oxide since the ban was introduced.

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Dr Khan explained his message to users who end up in Bradford's emergency department: "If you don't stop using nitrous oxide, you're not going to see any improvement.

"If anything you're going to end up becoming paraplegic, incontinent and psychotic because that's the worse case scenario."

Dr Khan continued: "As soon as you start telling them this, there's a complete change and the 'laughing' from the laughing gas has gone and it's like, 'Wow! I'm potentially knackering myself,' and you say 'Yes'."