Muscat, Sultanate of Oman—Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas with many legitimate uses. It has a slightly sweet smell and taste. When this gas is inhaled, it makes the people feel euphoric and relaxed. This happy feeling has led the Nitrous oxide being nicknamed as the ‘Laughing Gas.’ Some people also experience hallucinations. On the down side, there is a risk of death as a lack of oxygen can occur while using Nitrous oxide. Therefore, this laughing gas is no laughing matter!
The world of football in general and the Liverpool and English team fans are in a shock after news came in that the winger and attacking midfielder Raheem Sterling inhaled Nitrous oxide from a balloon. The footage generated a lot of controversy after the 20-year old Jamaica born England national football team player Sterling was seen hobnobbing with a dangerous gas that could not only cut short his soccer career but also his life span. This social peccadillo or sin in Spanish language is not new to football players or atheletes. The social guardians or moral keepers were quick to jump and pass their judgments about Sterling without having a look into his troubled family back ground. Sterling’s father was murdered in Jamaica when he was only eleven years old. The rising football star could not keep his feet on the ground after tasting success in the fast lane of football. His life changed forever.
Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. It is like having a knife. A housewife or a chef uses the knife to cut and garnish delicious dishes but the same knife in the hands of a criminal pushes him into a murderous frenzy. The same applies to Nitrous oxide, which is normally bought in pressured canisters. The canisters vary in size and depending on what it will be used for. The gas is commonly transferred to a container, e.g a balloon, from which the gas is inhaled. The three common legitimate uses of Nitous oxide include the following: To numb pain during medical procedures such as dental surgery. It is used to increase the power output in engines. In catering, in whipped cream aerosol cans to prevent the cream from going satle and bad in food packaging to prevent the food from rotting. Nitrous oxide is generally inhaled through the mouth. If it is inhaled directly from the canister, there is a risk of sudden death due to lack of oxygen. Hence, it is sold in balloons to addicts. Nitrous oxide is a depressant-type drug. It slows down the brain and body’s responses. The effects of inhaling vary depending on the amount of gas inhaled. It gives a feeling of euphoria, relaxation and calmness. It results in dizziness, difficulty in thinking properly and fits of laughter. It can cause headache too. Heavy regular use of Nitrous oxide leads to deficiency of Vitamin B12 and anemia. Nitrous oxide can cause serious nerve damage leading to tingling and numbness and idifficulty in walking. It is illegal in England and Wales, for anyone to sell Nitrous oxide to people below 18 years of age. Though it may not harm Raheem Sterling legally but it may harm him physically. Any addiction will be detrimental to Sterling’s surging career and he may face the penalty of life. The ball is now in Sterling’s court or field as one may choose to call it. Let life be full of laughter and it should not become a laughing stock.
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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
