At the moment you can purchase nitrous oxide for legitimate purposes. It's controlled under the psychoactive substances act of 2016. 9% of 16 to 24 year olds reported using it in 2016 to 2017. But if you look at 2021-2022, that figure is down to 3.9%.
The UK government recently announced plans to make the possession of laughing gas for recreational use a criminal offence. Nitrous oxide, also known as “nos”, is hugely popular among young people, and doctors have raised concerns about a rise in cases of nerve damage linked to the use of the drug. Ian Sample speaks to science correspondent Nicola Davis about the reasons behind the ban, the risks associated with using nitrous oxide and what experts have made of the government’s decision. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod