It is a dangerous practice but widespread in the evening among young people: inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide, also called “laughing gas”. This product, used in particular to make whipped cream, has been banned for sale to minors since June 1, 2021. Five months later, despite this law, consumption has not weakened. On the contrary, it is the object of a flourishing traffic: cylinders are sold illegally by kg – in the form of “tank” – thanks to a legal vacuum.
Nadine Grosdidier lost her son Yohan three years ago. The 19-year-old died of cardiac arrest after consuming nitrous oxide with friends. Since then, the family has continued to alert on the toxicity of this product. The cases of poisoning have multiplied by 3 in one year: 134 cases reported to poison control centers throughout France in 2020 against 46 in 2019 according to a recent ANSES report.
Yohan’s family has created an association to fight against this product used as a recreational drug. The law which prohibits the sale to minors is a step forward, according to Nadine Grosdidier, but it will not “not far enough”.
“I have no anger or hatred, but we know the dangers now. We have to do something, we have to react.”
Nadine Grosdidier, mother of a victimat “L’Œil du 20 heures”
The latter who present themselves on social networks as “wholesalers” obtain these goods freely, in particular on the internet from manufacturers in Europe or Asia. They then resell them illegally under cover at attractive prices: between 20 and 30 euros per cylinder.
We got in touch with one of these resellers, who arranged to meet us in a sensitive area of the Paris region. On a hidden camera, we pretended to be a minor trying to get hold of laughing gas for a party.
The man explains to us that he entered this traffic for six months and that he offers bottles for delivery, for 10 euros of travel everywhere in Ile-de-France.
Delivery is closed at 2 a.m. on weekdays and 5 a.m. on weekends.
An anonymous traffickerat “L’Œil du 20 heures”
On drug trafficking points, the police say they find more and more laughing gas, but they are struggling to stop the dealers because it is not officially a narcotic product. Grégory Goupil, from the Alliance-Police nationale union, speaks of a “law void”.
“They always have a parade!” I have a bakery “,” It’s for my mother “,” It’s for a family celebration “… For us, it’s hard to go further in an investigation on the public highway. “
Grégory Goupil, from the Alliance-Police nationale unionat “L’Œil du 20 heures”
Valérie Six, MP (UDI) from the North, makes the same observation. It is at the origin of the law on the prohibition of sale to minors. The text also plans to limit the quantity sold to adults, to fight against trafficking. Article L. 3611-2. has appeared in the Official Journal, but the decree which was to set the quantities, in agreement with the Ministries of Health and the Economy, has still not seen the light of day. Contacted, Bercy refers to the Ministry of Health.
Nearly 48 hours after our investigation, the Directorate General for Health finally replied that the draft decrees and orders will be notified to the European Commission at the beginning of December, for a publication of the texts scheduled “in March 2022”.