This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
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
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Teen thought to have inhaled laughing gas at London party dies | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A teenager believed to have taken laughing gas at a party has died. | |
The 18-year-old was taken to hospital after he collapsed in the street in Bexley, south-east London about 11.18pm on Saturday but died two hours later. | |
Police said the teen was believed to have attended a party where he may have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide. | |
He was in cardiac arrest when officers arrived at the scene in Wolvercote Road. The Metropolitan Police said: “Next of kin have been notified. A post-mortem will be scheduled in due course. | |
“At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained pending the findings of the post-mortem.” | |
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”. | 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. | Abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attacks. |
The research by 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. | Seventeen people in the UK died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the legal high. |