Medical Associations Want Police Intervention Against Illicit Use Of “Balloons”

The Ghana Anesthetists Society (GAS) and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have suggested the intervention of the Ghana Police Service in the fight against the illicit use of Nitrous Oxide also known as balloons or laughing gas.

Nitrous Oxide is an anaesthetic gas used for preservative and medical purposes, but it is currently being abused at parties and nightclubs, according to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

Its increasing use by the public to induce euphoria and laughter, according to the two medical associations, can compromise breathing and kill the user in less than 10 minutes; reduce consciousness; worsen respiratory conditions; and cause anaemia.

The GAS and the GMA in a joint statement on Monday threw their weight behind the FDA in their clamp down on the illicit use, calling the trend worrying.

“GAS, the professional body of all Doctor Anesthetists (Anaesthesiologists) in Ghana and the GMA fully support the Food and Drugs Authority in its effort to clamp down the illicit use of Nitrous oxide.”

They further suggested law enforcement agencies intervene in the fight against the menace.

“GAS and GMA call on the Police and other security agencies to join in this endeavour as a matter of urgency in the interest of public safety.”

The FDA sounded the alarm about the illicit use of the gas earlier this year. In addressing this, the Authority said it had collaborated with relevant stakeholder agencies.

In the meantime, it said that nightclubs, pubs and organisers of parties had been warned to desist from the abuse of laughing gas while it urged the public to report the abuse to the right authorities.