Does moderate, recreational use of nitrous oxide necessarily kill brain cells if the inhaled gas is not mixed with oxyge
Maybe. Nitrous oxide, also known as Whopper, Nitro, Buzz Bomb, Hippy Crack, etc., is a colourless, slightly sweet-smelling gas that can cause dizziness, a dreamy or floating sensation, and a painless state. Initially, it was used as an anaesthetic to sedate and relieve pain during minor medical procedures. But nitrous oxide is increasingly being used as a recreational drug. Recreational use of nitrous oxide is illegal, which can lead to brain damage, asphyxiation and even death. This is due to the fact that the amount of nitrous oxide used recreationally cannot be precisely controlled, which can lead to a person being unexpectedly deprived of oxygen. This simply means that in order to achieve a high enough concentration of nitrous oxide for good behaviour, concentrations of 50% or more must be inhaled. If these concentrations are mixed with room air, the concentration of inhaled oxygen drops to a low level and the lack of oxygen may lead to irreversible brain damage. Studies have also shown that long-term use of nitrous oxide can lead to disabling neurological sequelae due to functional inactivation of vitamin B12.
