Laughing gas abuse among young people a concern: Medical experts

Canisters and cartridges of the gas are sold on e-commerce platforms in Singapore

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

Medical professionals say they are concerned that young people may be abusing nitrous oxide to feel intoxicated, with buyers purchasing the gas from dubious sellers.

The Straits Times was alerted to the illegal activity by a reader who gave her name only as Ms Pang. She had witnessed the driver of a luxury car unloading canisters at a condominium in the East in February.

Ms Pang said the boot was filled with cartons of nitrous oxide, which is commonly used to make whipped cream and merengue.

"It was concerning and suspicious because it was on the second day of the Chinese New Year, and all the baking of cakes and cookies would have been done before the new year," she added.

Ms Pang later spoke to the resident who collected the nitrous oxide canisters, and he told her that he gets weekly deliveries to his home to get his fix of laughing gas.

On March 29, police arrested the driver of a sports car in Killiney Road for a rash act offence. The 37-year-old man was suspected to be intoxicated with nitrous oxide.

The last case of nitrous oxide addiction in Singapore was reported in 2017, but medical professionals say there has been an uptick in recent years.

Psychiatrist Jared Ng, medical director and senior consultant psychiatrist at Connections Mind Health, told ST that he now treats between three and four patients a year.

Dr Ng said there may be underreporting of the issue, adding that patients do not typically seek help specifically for nitrous oxide abuse.

Instead, the behaviour often emerges during a psychiatric assessment for other issues, such as anxiety, depression or substance use concerns.