‘Laughing gas’ as dangerous drug up to DDB, says DOH chief Vergeire

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said will defer the possible labeling of the nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” as dangerous drugs to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

The Health official made the remark after the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Monday it was considering adding nitrous oxide to the list of dangerous drugs in the country after receiving reports that balloons filled with laughing gas were being sold in a club in Pasay City for users to get high.

Vergeire said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified nitrous oxide as a prescribed medication as it is considered a drug and an anaesthesia.

“[It] is commonly used as an anesthetic, both medically and dentally ito. Ang nagagawa ng epekto nito sa ating katawan, kapag tayo naka-inhale natin ito—this is a gas—state of euphoria, ‘yung parang intense ang excitement tsaka happiness ng isang tao,” Vergeire said.

(What it does to our body when we inhale this gas is we are placed under a state of euphoria, or experience intense excitement or happiness.)

Excessive intake of this laughing gas could also cause dizziness, drowsiness, losing consciousness, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeats, excessive sweating, and involuntary body reflexes.

“Ito pong pagka-classify as an illegal substance, hindi po ito kasama sa mg panungkulan ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan. So, we will defer to the Dangerous Drugs Boards para ito ay mapag-usapan doon sa Board at magkaroon ng agreement kung kailangan ito i-classify as an illegal substance so we can prevent addiction for this,” Vergeire said.

(Classifying this as an illegal substance is not included in the duties of the Department of Health. So, we will defer to the Dangerous Drugs Boards if it needs to be classified as an illegal substance so we can prevent addiction for this.)

Nitrous oxide is currently not considered an illegal substance under Republic Act  (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. —NB, GMA Integrated News