DDB: Listing nitrous oxide as dangerous needs study

MANILA, Philippines — Proposals to include nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, in the list of dangerous substances should be studied thoroughly as its possible inclusion may have negative effects on certain industries, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) said on Saturday.

DDB chairman Catalino Cuy said including nitrous oxide, a non-flammable gas, in the list would be a drastic move.

“We cannot just consider (nitrous oxide) a dangerous drug. This has industrial and medical uses,” he said in a phone interview.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it is studying the possibility of including nitrous oxide in the list of dangerous substances.

The issue cropped up after seven Vietnamese were arrested for allegedly selling laughing gas in balloons at a bar in Pasay City.

Cuy said nitrous oxide is used by hospitals as a sedative on some patients who need to undergo medical procedures.

“We have to take this up with the companies that use it,” he said.

Cuy said nitrous oxide is in gaseous form, unlike others on the DDB’s dangerous substances list.

The DDB and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, in a joint statement, alerted the public that the use of nitrous oxide outside of its prescribed purpose may have adverse effects.

Cuy said there is an existing law, Presidential Decree 1619, that can address the misuse of substances such as nitrous oxide. The law penalizes the use, possession or unauthorized sale to minors of volatile substances for the purposes of inducing intoxication or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory, visual or mental process.