Nitrous oxide balloons are drugs; the laughing gas creates psychological addiction, Albanian toxicologist says

Young people consuming the laughing fas balloons (archive) 

 The topic of discussion on the Review show on Euronews Albania this Saturday was one of the drugs trending on social media, which is nitrous oxide.

As a guest in the studio, toxicologist Esmeralda Thoma stated that nitrous oxide is a substance that can undoubtedly be considered a drug due to the effects it has on the nervous system.

She emphasized that this type of substance creates psychological dependence in adolescents and can serve as an "experimental gateway" that can lead them to stronger drugs.

"It doesn't fall into the category of synthetic drugs, but it is a type of drug. Adolescents often start using this type of drug directly. They begin with this for the first time. Generally, adolescents start experimenting with common cigarettes from the age of 10-12, then move on to cannabis, and then they start experimenting with these new experiences.

There is physical addiction and psychological addiction. Physical addiction is when at the moment the individual reduces or discontinues the drug, they experience a series of clinical symptoms. Psychological addiction is a kind of feeling where the patient has a continuous desire, a kind of craving for this type of drug, but there are no physical signs or symptoms for the doctor. There is nervousness," said the toxicologist.