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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/26/teen-thought-to-have-inhaled-laughing-gas-at-london-party-in-critical-condition
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| Teen thought to have inhaled laughing gas at London party in critical condition | Teen thought to have inhaled laughing gas at London party in critical condition |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A teenager who is believed to have taken laughing gas at a party is in a critical condition. | A teenager who is believed to have taken laughing gas at a party is in a critical condition. |
| The 18-year-old was rushed to hospital after police and the ambulance service attended the scene in Bexley, south-east London. | The 18-year-old was rushed to hospital after police and the ambulance service attended the scene in Bexley, south-east London. |
| Police said the teenager was believed to have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. | Police said the teenager was believed to have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. |
| He was in cardiac arrest when officers arrived at the scene in Wolvercote Road at 11.18pm on Saturday and is now in a critical condition in hospital. | He was in cardiac arrest when officers arrived at the scene in Wolvercote Road at 11.18pm on Saturday and is now in a critical condition in hospital. |
| Research published earlier this year showed there had been a rise in the recreational use of nitrous oxide, known by various names including “hippie crack”. | |
| It is not illegal to be in possession of the substance although it is prohibited from being sold in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it. | |
| The gas can make people feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly, leading to the nickname laughing gas. It is usually inhaled through balloons. | |
| Abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attacks. | |
| The research by the respiratory consultant and neonatal paediatrician Dr Paul Seddon found that 7.6% of 16- to 24-year-olds in England and Wales have admitted to having tried balloons, which were described as “widely available” in shops that sell legal highs. | |
| Seventeen people in the UK died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the legal high. |