A session held last Thursday by the Amadora/Sintra Local Health Unit (ULS) addressed the recreational use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as 'laughing gas'. The phenomenon has been increasing in Europe, and in Portugal, the Greater Lisbon area is among the regions with the highest incidence of consumption.
During the presentation of the work, led by doctors from the Neurology Department of ULS Amadora/Sintra, several factors were highlighted as explanations for the growing use of this substance, namely its easy access and low cost. It is demonstrated that users are predominantly young people, including both young adults and adolescents.
From a medical standpoint, it is proven that there is no safe threshold for nitrous oxide use, and its consequences can be severe. Neurological complications are the most frequent, manifesting as toxic lesions to the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or even the brain. Symptoms such as tingling sensations and loss of gait autonomy are what lead consumers to seek emergency medical care.
The session organized by ULS Amadora/Sintra aimed primarily to alert medical specialties, both in hospitals and in the community, to recognize the neurological complications associated with this consumption. More broadly, the meeting intended to serve as a starting point for raising awareness and preventing its use.
