What is 'hippy crack', the drug of choice for under-24s?  

Second only to cannabis in popularity, nitrous oxide is the latest craze at festivals and concerts

MORE than 350,000 young people took 'hippy crack' last year, making it second only to cannabis as the most popular drug for people aged between 16 and 24. Even Prince Harry was alleged to have tried it in 2010. But what exactly does it do and can it be dangerous

What is it? Hippy crack is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. It has become a craze at festivals and concerts, where it can often be bought in balloons to inhale for £2 or less. It works by blocking signals to the conscious mind from other parts of the brain, giving users a brief feeling of intense euphoria and relaxation. The gas was traditionally used by dentists and surgeons to numb pain and is put into some aerosol cans as a whipping agent, as in whipped cream canisters.

Is it legal? Possessing and inhaling nitrous oxide is legal, but supplying it to others to inhale, especially people under 18, could lead to prosecution under the Medicines Act. Unlicensed vendors risk a two-year prison sentence. Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide could also lead to a heavy fine, disqualification from driving and even a prison sentence.

How did it get its name? Hippy Crack is considered to be more of a tongue-in-cheek name than actually having any relation to crack cocaine. However, the short length of the high and eagerness of some users to keep going back for more are said to be similar. The term has been around for years, although nitrous oxide has also been referred to as nitrous, balloons, N2O and sweet air.

Is it dangerous? Short-term side effects can include headaches, dizziness and unconsciousness, while long-term, excessive use has been associated with anaemia, incontinence, depleted bone marrow and numbness in fingers and toes. The recreational use of nitrous oxide can be fatal, but deaths are rare. In some fatal cases, the person has put a bag over their head to inhale it or opened a tank in a sealed space, such as a car. Joseph Benett, a 17-year-old art student from north London, suffered a cardiac arrest, fell into a coma and died after inhaling the gas last year. An interim Hertfordshire Coroner's Court report gave the cause of death as hypoxic brain injury caused by inhalation of nitrous oxide. ·

http://www.theweek.co.uk 26/07/2013