A new report by experts from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has revealed that there has been “a visible mark of the increasing incidence of nitrous oxide (N2O) misuse” since lockdown began.
Nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas, “hippie crack”, balloons and nos – is the second most popular drug amongst young people in the UK.
Its popularity is believed to be due to the fact that it is cheap and easy to get hold of.
As defined by FRANK, nitrous oxide is “a colourless gas most commonly found in pressurised metal canisters [which] you may have seen lying around in streets outside bars and nightclubs”.
It is often consumed by “transferring the gas into a container (usually a balloon), then inhaling from the balloon” and this is because “inhaling nitrous oxide directly from the canister is very dangerous [as] the gas is under such high pressure, which can cause a spasm of the throat muscle and stop a person breathing.”
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Nitrous oxide slows down brain and body responses and the effects of the drug is known to vary depending on how much has been inhaled.
Negative side effects of the inhalation of nitrous oxide include severe headaches, dizziness, inability to think straight and short-lived, but intense feelings of paranoia. Regular use can stop you forming white blood cells properly and heavy regular use can result in deficiency of vitamin B12. Severe B12 deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes – this can be very painful and make walking difficult.
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More serious side effects range from the risk of falling unconscious and/or suffocating from the lack of oxygen, which can/has lead to death.
The supply of nitrous oxide as a recreational drug is illegal under the UK’s Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, however, this does not appear to have acted as a deterrent in illicit drug use.
A tweet by Twitter user @sixkenza, calling for ‘cancelling’ balloons, has recently brought nitrous oxide inhalation into mainstream conversation once again. The tweet contained a screenshot of a personal account by a sufferer of severe side effects from nitrous oxide inhalation, which left her hospitalised.
The chilling statement featured in the tweet read: “Balloons.”
“We all do them, use them and abuse them, but never think about the long term effects. I have lost all feeling in both [legs], I have collapsed in public multiple times and that’s why I came to hospital.”
“My legs had been feeling numb for a couple weeks now, but I expected it to go away. I have no balance, no brain and leg coordination and no reflexes in my legs whatsoever. I have a long road to recovery and the recovery isn’t even 100%. I have to have injections daily and for the rest of my life. MRI scans and physio to learn how to walk again.”
“This isn’t a joke”.
“I will never touch a balloon again and I hope this is a wake up all to all of you. Your effects won’t be immediate, they will creep up on you slowly, so please stop doing them because they can leave you paralysed for life.”
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The tweet subsequently went viral since posting, going on to amass well over 8,000 retweets, 17,000 likes and hundreds of responses from people expressing shock and their own messages of warning, as well as sharing accounts of similar experiences and stories.
people forget that nitrous oxide is literally used when women give BIRTH and even that is mixed with 50% oxygen, whyyy would you inhale that voluntarily pls,
Balloons are literally the reason I have fits and lose my memory a lot, literally all year last year I was having MRI scans and currently waiting for an appointment to go Sheffield hospital for radiotherapy, from jan 2019 I was havin seizures between 6-12 times a week, stupidity https://t.co/d7jMfusozC
Honestly this should be a wake up call for a lot of you! No one thinks about the seriousness of it until something bad happens to them. I have and always will be against them however pathetic it may sound ??♀️ https://t.co/7c2zmNVKeK
we need to stop thinking we’re bulletproof ? i thought i was until i experienced the scariest 20 seconds of my life which felt like 20 minutes. couldn’t speak, hear or see anything followed my severe panic attacks and difficulty breathing for hours. they are SO dangerous !! https://t.co/verxTJHOVx
Rather worryingly, a few of the tweet responses also seemed to indicate a confusion on the correlation between balloons and nitrous oxide.
Some tweets revealed that people were unaware it was nitrous oxide contained within balloons and others even appeared to be under the assumption the substance filling the balloons that are referred to in the statement in question was actually helium.
This just highlights how much uncertainty there is and potentially offers explanation as to why such tragic situations may occur.
Whilst it’s wrong to claim that the negative side effects of nitrous oxide inhalation are not widely known, regularly discussed or previously warned against, we can only hope that the attention this tweet has and continues to receive, will go some way to serving as a wake up call for a newer generation of individuals who are seemingly appearing to abuse this drug more than ever before.
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More information on the effects of nitrous oxide can be found via FRANK here.
To read the full report by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) into the rise of N2O consumption during lockdown, you can do so here.
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Manchester United’s Old Trafford regeneration project backed by UK government
Danny Jones
Manchester United have officially received government backing for the redevelopment of their stadium and the wider regeneration of the surrounding Old Trafford area.
One of the first things that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group made a priority after acquiring their minority stake in the club was to bring the home ground up to standard and it looks as though that rather large task is now moving in the right direction.
With Chancellor Rachel Reeves dubbing the Old Trafford Regeneration Project as “a shining example” of the Labour plans to promote economic growth, Man United now have the full blessing of the government ahead of the real work beginning.
Liaising with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Trafford Council specifically to bring plans to fruition, the Old Trafford area as we know is set to be transformed significantly, with a new ‘Wembley of the North’ being the key component of the project.
ℹ️ The Old Trafford Regeneration Project has been backed by the government.#MUFC
The backing of the government means that beyond the club simply paying to redevelop the stadium itself, this will allow for other aspects such as improved transport infrastructure, housing and new businesses to be created as part of Old Trafford’s regeneration.
It’s also worth noting that no public money is on the table at present, with Ratcliffe, the Glazers and co. expected to foot the bill for all facets.
Reacting to the official statement by the UK Treasury, CEO Omar Berrada said: “The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again.
“We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the Chancellor and the ongoing support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Trafford Council.
If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”
This might not be Man United’s home forever. (Credit: The Manc Group)
As for the Mayor of Greater Manchester Mayor himself – who was appointed as a key figure on the Old Trafford Regeneration Taskforce – Andy Burnham went on to add: “With our devolved powers we’re mobilising the whole Greater Manchester system to lock in growth for the next decade and reap the rewards for our city-region and UK plc.
“We look forward to working with the Government on moving freight away from the site around Old Trafford to new locations to open up capacity for our rail network and unlock massive regeneration potential”, he continued, insisting that it will lead to “benefits across the whole of the North.”
Although it still remains unconfirmed whether or not the existing Old Trafford structure will be renovated – which would see an increased capacity of around 87,000 – or whether an entirely new 100k-seater stadium will be built instead, though the most recent fan survey seemed to favour the latter.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Manchester United (via website/X)
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You can now own a two-bed barge in a Greater Manchester marina
Thomas Melia
A new property has gone up for sale in Greater Manchester but you’ll have to act fast otherwise it’ll sail right past you – literally.
Ever fancied living on a yacht in Sicily or a cruise ship in the Caribbean? Well, now you can live your nautical dreams right here in the heart of Greater Manchester.
I hope blue is your favourite colour because this barge is decked out floor to ceiling in this deep maritime tone, even the kitchen cupboards are blue, pastel to be specific.
The main living area and kitchen are open plan with walls that span three-quarters of the property‘s width creating a corridor between the two bedrooms and bathroom.
The living room interior with a gorgeous fluffy rug.The view of the living area with the dual fuel log burner.Credit: On The Market
In terms of the cooking space, the kitchen is fully fitted with all the appliances you could ever need, perfect for a lazy Sunday when all you’re after is a full English and a nice comforting view.
As you can see, there’s also a cute skylight window above the kitchen which brings in more natural light and broadens perspectives within this area, although it’s quite roomy anyway.
Both bedrooms are quite sizeable meaning you don’t have to downsize or reduce your wardrobe and your other half can stop insisting you do (just us? Never mind).
Now, sit back, relax and just imagine drinking a prosecco while perched under the British sun on your new barge balcony.
If this barge wasn’t snug enough how about a log burner to go with it, and not just any log burner, a dual fuel log burner, that’ll keep you toasty.
Situated on Pennington Marina in Leigh, there’s a small collection of amenities nearby including a chippy and restaurant just a seven-minute walk away, I know where I’m off for tea.
That stunning kitchen with matching all blue decorum.The cozy main bedroom pefectly covered in rugs and blankets.Credit: On The Market
And if you’re ever in the mood for a walk, just hop off your cruiser and let your feet lead the way along the canal to the interesting and quirky Lock Gates Monument, only eight minutes away.
Overall, this houseboat is 70ft she’s definitely not small, this really is like a home away from home, the only difference is this one’s on water.
Interested in ditching land in favour of water or just feel like having a nosey, you can find the two-bedroom houseboat listing with all its pictures and floor plan HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd June 2020 
