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'''Recreational use of nitrous oxide''' is the inhalation of [[nitrous oxide]] gas for purposes other than medical procedures.

==Inhalation of nitrous oxide==
[[Image:Nitrous oxide - 10 x 8g.jpg|thumb|200px|right|8g canister of nitrous oxide]]
Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) is a [[dissociative]] that can cause [[analgesia]], [[euphoria]], dizziness, [[flanging]] of sound, and, in some cases, slight hallucinations and mild [[aphrodisiac]] effect. 

This drug is often mislabeled as an '[[inhalant]]', implying it bears a relation to substances such as glue, gasoline, or aerosol sprays.
 
During the 19th century, [[William James]] and many contemporaries found that inhalation of nitrous oxide resulted in a powerful [[spiritualism|spiritual]] and [[mysticism|mystical]] experience for the user. James claimed to experience the fusing of dichotomies into a unity and a revelation of ultimate truth during the inhalation of nitrous oxide. Memory of this experience, however, quickly faded and any attempt to communicate was difficult at best. James described a man who, when under the influence of the gas, claimed to know the secret of the universe.  

The drug currently (as of 2005) enjoys moderate popularity in some countries. It was often sold at [[Grateful Dead]] and [[Phish]] concerts. One slang term for the drug is '''[[Hippie]] Crack'''; this term implies commentary on the typical user of the substances as well as purported similarities between its psychological [[addiction]] potential or the short-lived duration of its effects and similar properties of [[cocaine|"crack" cocaine]].

===Methods of inhalation===
Recreational users generally use 8g containers of nitrous oxide, which they use to fill balloons or whipped cream dispensers. The gas is then inhaled from the balloon or dispenser. This is necessary because nitrous oxide is very cold when it decompresses on exit from a canister; inhalation directly from a tank is dangerous and can cause frostbite in the voice box. Some users attach gas masks or other inhalation devices to large tanks of the gas.

==Laughing gas as a sexual fetish==
In recent years, a number of adult sites and groups have appeared on the internet, which cater
to various medical fetishes. There have been a number of Yahoo and MSN groups that cater to laughing gas as a sexual fetish exclusively or attach it to the larger fetishes of dental, medical or sleeping gas fetishes. The oldest and longest running website devoted to the fetish of laughing gas, exclusively, is The Laughing Gas Zone, which started out as a Yahoo adult group in 1997 and later became a website devoted to "fantasy" laughing gas mixed with the fetish of [[tickling]]. The site disclaimer states that it does not condone the actual use of laughing gas and further states that it promotes "healthy" fantasy based scenarios, rather than the real thing.

==Health concerns==
Since nitrous oxide can cause dizziness, [[Dissociation (psychology)|dissociation]], and temporary loss of [[motor control]], it is unsafe to inhale while standing up. Inhalation directly from a tank poses serious health risks, as it can cause [[frostbite]] since the gas is very cold when released. For those reasons, most recreational users will discharge the gas into a balloon or [[whipped cream]] dispenser before inhaling.

Nitrouse oxide can be habit-forming, mainly because of its short-lived effect (generally from 1 - 5 minutes in recreational doses) and ease of access. Death can result if it is inhaled in such a way that not enough oxygen is breathed in. While the pure gas is not toxic, long-term use has been associated with [[vitamin B12]] deficiency and it's symptoms: [[anemia]] due to reduced [[hemopoiesis]], [[neuropathy]], [[tinnitus]], and [[numbness]] in extremities. Pregnant women should not use nitrous oxide recreationally, because chronic use is also [[teratogen|teratogenic]] and [[fetus|foetotoxic]].

Inhaling industrial-grade nitrous oxide is also dangerous, as it contains many impurities and is not intended for use on humans.  Food grade nitrous oxide is also not meant to be inhaled; the bulbs commonly have industrial lubricants from their manufacturing process on and in them.  When the bulb is punctured, these solvents can aerosol, introducing unknown particles into the gas.  These lubricants commonly leave an oily residue on the bulb "cracker" or inside the whipped cream dispenser.{{fact}}

==Legality==
Under United States federal law, possession of nitrous oxide is legal and is not subject to [[DEA]] purview. It is, however, regulated by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] under the Food Drug and Cosmetics Act. Prosecution is possible under its "misbranding" clauses, prohibiting the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide for the purpose of human consumption (the [[recreational drug use]] market). Given the necessity of proving intent of either buyer or seller in this case, though, such prosecution are rare. 

Many states have laws regulating the possession, sale, and distribution of nitrous oxide;[http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/N20_state_laws.htm] but these are normally limited to either banning distribution to minors, or to setting an upper limit for the amount of nitrous oxide that may be sold without special license, rather than banning possession or distribution completely. In most jurisdictions, like at the federal level, sale or distribution for the purpose of human consumption is illegal. In [[California]], for instance, inhalation of nitrous oxide "for the purpose of causing [[euphoria]], or for the purpose of changing in any manner one’s mental processes," is a [[crime|criminal]] offense under its criminal code ([http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/pen/369a-402c.html Cal. Pen. Code, Sec. 381b]). In many other countries, this substance is legal. Small N<sub>2</sub>O cartriges, used to make [[whipped cream]], are available to buy by anyone.

In all jurisdictions, however, such distribution, possession, and use are legal even though intended for human consumption, when done under the supervision and diretion of licensed medical professional such as a physician or dentist.

==Laughing gas in movies and fiction==
*[[Laughing Gas (movie)|''Laughing Gas'' (movie)]]
*[[Laughing Gas (novel)|''Laughing Gas'' (novel)]] 
*Laughing Gas is one of the main weapons used by the ''[[Batman]]'' villain, ''[[Joker (comics)|The Joker]]'', only he uses a concoction which is portrayed as being green and lethal.
*In order to experience a "high", the dentist character (Steve Martin) in the musical [[Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)|film version]] of ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical play)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'' dies from the inhalation of laughing gas.
*In the television program, ''[[Hey Arnold!]]'', Helga Pataki calls Arnold while on laughing gas and confesses her love for him. When she realizes what she did, she sneaks into his house and tries to get the answering machine tape in which the confession is recorded.
*Two of the main characters in the American re-make of the film ''[[Taxi (2004 film)|Taxi]]'' get trapped in a room filled with laughing gas.
*The main character of ''[[Zodiac (novel)|Zodiac]]'', Sangamon Taylor, uses it as a drug, and even came up with [[Sangamon's Principle]] to explain why it should be used over other drugs.
*In ''[[Black Sheep (film)|Black Sheep]]'', the two main protagonists borrow a police car and its nitrous oxide boosters leak after hitting a pothole, intoxicating the duo.
*In the ''[[Munsters]]'' episode where Herman sneaks into the hospital to visit Eddie after hours, Herman is given laughing gas by the staff. Lily thinks that he was out drinking.
*In the ''[[Problem Child 3: Junior in Love]]'' the dentist used laughing gas to hibernate Junior.
*In the movies ''[[Fast and the Furious]]'' and ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]'', nitrous oxide is largely used in most of cars.
*In the film ''[[Mission: Impossible II]]'', emergency [[oxygen mask]]s are deployed on a commercial [[airliner]], but instead of providing oxygen they dispense nitrous oxide, rendering the passengers and pilot [[unconsciousness|unconscious]].
*In ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]'', [[Inspector Clouseau]], disguised as a dentist, administers laughing gas to Dreyfus (and to himself) and proceeds to remove the wrong tooth.
*In the film ''[[Final Destination 2]]'', Tim Carpenter is nearly killed when he is accidentally administered a constant stream of pure nitrous oxide at a dentist's office. In the dentist's absence, a toy from a [[Mobile (sculpture)|mobile]] above the chair falls into Tim's mouth forcing him either to breathe the pure nitrous oxide or choke.
*An episode of ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel Air]]'' shows Will and Carlton in a dentist's office with [[William Shatner]] and the valve on a nitrous oxide tank comes loose. The three become extremely intoxicated and later show the [[hangover]] symptoms.
*In the animated series [[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (TV series)|GI Joe]], laughing gas was commonly used to torture prisoners of [[Cobra Organization|Cobra]], most often by the [[Dreadnoks]].  The torture was actually unrealistic to actual laughing gas, in that the Cobra laughing gas made its victims laugh so hard they soon were in pain and, in at least one episode, the gas appeared to [[tickle]] its victims when coming into contact with [[skin]].
*Nitrous oxide use is portrayed in the movie ''[[Kids (film)|Kids]]''.
*Nitrous oxide is used by characters in the movie ''[[Bio-Dome]]''.
*Nitrous oxide is used by several characters in the movie ''[[Tank Girl]]''.
*Use of Nitrous Oxide is implied, but not shown, in the movie ''[[Old School (film)|Old School]]''.
*In the [[1998 in film|1998]] movie ''[[Lethal Weapon 4]]'', [[Mel Gibson]], [[Danny Glover]], [[Chris Rock]] use laughing gas as a 'Truth drug' on [[Kim Chan]] in a dentist's office which slowly fills with laughing gas, causing all present to reveal unintended truths to each other while uncontrollably laughing.
*'Laughing Gas' is the name of a poem by Beat poet [[Allen Ginsberg]].
*Laughing Gas is also used in A Night At The Roxbury.
*At the end of an episode of The Simpsons the dentist accidently leaves the laughing gas on.
*In a Seinfeld episode Jerry suspects having been molested while unconscious on laughing gas.
*In ''[[The Road Warrior]]'', nitrous oxide is used to speed the Lord Humungus' vehicle.

==See also==
*[[Dissociative drug|Dissociatives]]
**[[Phencyclidine|PCP]]
**[[Ketamine]]
**[[Dextromethorphan]]
*[[Inhalant]]
*[[Psychoactive drug]]

==External links ==
*[http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/nitrous/nitrous.shtml Erowid Nitrous Oxide Vault]
*[http://www.justsayn2o.com Nitrous Oxide FAQ]
*[http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/67.html National Pollutant Inventory - Oxides of nitrogen fact sheet]
*[http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/laughing_gas.html The Use of Nitrous Oxide in Dentistry]
*[http://www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/jnitrous.html "Subjective Effects of Nitrous Oxide" by William James]
{{ChemicalSources}}
{{Dissociative_hallucinogens}}
{{E number infobox 930-949}}
{{General anesthetics}}

[[Category:Anesthetics]]
[[Category:Dissociatives]]