STOCKHOLM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The use of nitrous oxide as a recreational drug has increased in Sweden in recent years, also among train passengers, prompting railway company SJ to review their rules, local media reported on Wednesday.
In an internal message to their staff, SJ writes that the use of nitrous oxide has "increased dramatically lately," something that could lead to other passengers feeling uncomfortable and even pose a safety hazard, Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reported.
SJ has, therefore, initiated a review of its rules and regulations, DN reported.
News reports about empty nitrous gas canisters littering streets have become increasingly frequent over the last few years, and the increased usage has also been noticed by the Swedish Poisons Information Center.
"We used to get five, ten or maybe twenty inquiries annually, but in 2021 it suddenly increased to 140, and last year we had around 450 inquiries," said Johanna Grass, the center's chief medical officer.
Most of the calls are related to complications, such as loss of sensitivity and hallucinations, but the center has also received calls from nitrous oxide users in their 20s suffering from dementia-like symptoms, said Grass.
Last month, the Swedish government tasked relevant authorities with launching an information campaign regarding the dangers of using nitrous oxide as a recreational drug.
The government has also launched an inquiry into how to deal with the problem by regulating the nonmedical use of nitrous oxide, the legal age for purchasing nitrous oxide, and rules regarding the import and marketing of nitrous oxide. ■