Khaberni - Nitrous oxide, known as "laughing gas," has become part of the lives of some professional football players, who use it in their spare time for laughter and entertainment, a phenomenon that has particularly concerned clubs in Europe.
The Spanish newspaper "AS" said that laughing gas has become common among professional players as it is legal and inexpensive, and most importantly, it does not leave any trace in drug testing samples, pointing out that the problem lies not in its immediate effects but in the health risks and the message it sends to communities.
Laughing Gas.. A silent narcotic that terrifies European clubs
Over the past years, videos and images have surfaced along with testimonies from professional players consuming this gas at party scenes and nightlife, with the initial controversial images appearing in the English Premier League in 2018 featuring Arsenal players.
At that time, a quartet of "Gunners," Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, were filmed inhaling the gas from balloons, which sparked a wide debate and condemnation as they are athletes.
However, the players were not subjected to any sporting or legal penalties, which gave a dangerous sense of "action and lack of punishment."
Since then, such cases have continued to occur in English football, the most recent and widely circulated being the case of Yves Bissouma, a Tottenham Hotspur player, who was filmed inhaling laughing gas in a video that spread on social media, although his club initiated an internal investigation and imposed a disciplinary punishment on him.
Widespread prevalence
"AS" highlighted a testimony from a worker at entertainment venues in Ibiza, a favored destination for football players during their vacations, saying, "They use it a lot. It is evident."
He added, "After the parties, you find 20 or 30 cartridges scattered around. This gas is legal, cheap, and easy to obtain," available online at low prices (14 euros for a cartridge with a balloon), leading young people to believe it is a safe substance far removed from the image of traditional drugs, according to the newspaper.
Nitrous oxide is not considered a stimulant, but it poses a real risk to health, according to Dr. Emilio Salgado, who works at a hospital in Barcelona.
Salgado said, "The gas is legal, but that does not mean it is safe. The danger lies in the pattern of repeated use, as its effects last about a minute, and repeated inhalation of 200 or 300 or even 800 times in a single night can be dangerous."
Health Risks
Inhaling laughing gas can cause oxygen deficiency, loss of consciousness, and long-term nerve damage due to its negative effect on vital vitamin "B12" (B12), which affects movement and muscle strength.
