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| 'Laughing gas' teenager dies after party in Abbey Wood | |
| (4 days later) | |
| A teenager believed to have taken so-called laughing gas at a party in south-east London has died. | A teenager believed to have taken so-called laughing gas at a party in south-east London has died. |
| The 18-year-old was taken to hospital after collapsing in a street in Abbey Wood, shortly after 23:15 BST on Saturday. He died two hours later. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said he was believed to have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. | The Metropolitan Police said he was believed to have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. |
| Seventeen people in the UK died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the drug. | Seventeen people in the UK died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the drug. |
| The teenager's next of kin have been informed. | The teenager's next of kin have been informed. |
| "At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained pending the findings of the post-mortem," a Met spokesman said. | "At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained pending the findings of the post-mortem," a Met spokesman said. |
| The government plans to ban the sale of legal highs, which would include nitrous oxide. | The government plans to ban the sale of legal highs, which would include nitrous oxide. |
| The gas - inhaled using a balloon - can make people feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly, which has led to its nickname. | The gas - inhaled using a balloon - can make people feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly, which has led to its nickname. |
| But abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and heart attacks. | But abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and heart attacks. |
| It is not illegal to be in possession of the gas, although it is prohibited from being sold in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it. | It is not illegal to be in possession of the gas, although it is prohibited from being sold in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it. |
| Nitrous oxide | Nitrous oxide |
| 'Whenever I see anyone selling it I'll buy a few balloons' | 'Whenever I see anyone selling it I'll buy a few balloons' |
| Daniel, a 19-year-old railway worker says: | Daniel, a 19-year-old railway worker says: |
| "I take them at weekends, festivals and holidays. | "I take them at weekends, festivals and holidays. |
| I got into it when I saw someone selling it, so I tried it and I liked the feeling of it. I mainly do it during a night out, it just gives you a two minute buzz. | I got into it when I saw someone selling it, so I tried it and I liked the feeling of it. I mainly do it during a night out, it just gives you a two minute buzz. |
| Some of my friends do it and some don't. I wouldn't say it leads to other drugs. | Some of my friends do it and some don't. I wouldn't say it leads to other drugs. |
| They're popular because they're cheap, they don't stay in your system and it only last a few minutes and you can't get in trouble for doing them. | They're popular because they're cheap, they don't stay in your system and it only last a few minutes and you can't get in trouble for doing them. |
| I didn't think laughing gas was dangerous. I was shocked to be honest when that guy died. I think I would reconsider doing them in future." | I didn't think laughing gas was dangerous. I was shocked to be honest when that guy died. I think I would reconsider doing them in future." |
| 'Should you intervene when your housemate becomes addicted to laughing gas?' | 'Should you intervene when your housemate becomes addicted to laughing gas?' |
| Emma, 22, is an office administrator from South Wales. | Emma, 22, is an office administrator from South Wales. |
| "I've seen people hurt themselves with laughing gas. They stand up and spin with balloons and I saw one person fall over and land on the steps and crack his glasses. | "I've seen people hurt themselves with laughing gas. They stand up and spin with balloons and I saw one person fall over and land on the steps and crack his glasses. |
| Some would do a 'double balloon' to hallucinate and a lot would pass out for a few moments. | Some would do a 'double balloon' to hallucinate and a lot would pass out for a few moments. |
| My friend did it out of boredom stupidly. She did about 50 balloons in her bedroom. | My friend did it out of boredom stupidly. She did about 50 balloons in her bedroom. |
| You can buy them abroad for about 1-2 euros but in the UK they can be ordered over the phone and delivered to your house. | You can buy them abroad for about 1-2 euros but in the UK they can be ordered over the phone and delivered to your house. |
| I don't think they're very safe because of the lack of oxygen and the burns you can get from the canister and the risk of falling over. | I don't think they're very safe because of the lack of oxygen and the burns you can get from the canister and the risk of falling over. |
| At least with alcohol you can see what you're doing. The gas clouds your vision though and you can't hear properly. | At least with alcohol you can see what you're doing. The gas clouds your vision though and you can't hear properly. |
| You see colours and there's almost a pulsing sound that comes with it. Seeing people's face after they've done it isn't nice either. I got suckered into doing it once but I never did it again." | You see colours and there's almost a pulsing sound that comes with it. Seeing people's face after they've done it isn't nice either. I got suckered into doing it once but I never did it again." |