In Nigeria, youths seek ‘happy hours’ in laughing gas amid economic woes

Nitrous oxide, once used in clinical practice, is now a recreational drug of choice for an increasing number of Nigerian youths. It was Seun’s first time doing laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide. Unlike other drugs, laughing gas does not have its own colloquial name yet, mostly because it is expensive and has not become wildly popular among low-income users, who still get by on cheaper gateway drugs. “All of these other drugs used to be very expensive but when they get more popular and become cheaper,” another user Abidemi said, predicting a similar future for laughing gas. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy says the agency has been trying to create awareness about the dangers of laughing gas abuse using traditional means and social media – including X Spaces.