1 week Ago By Isabel Shaw
A HEARTBROKEN mum is issuing a warning about the dangers of “hippy crack” after her daughter tragically died from inhaling it.Ashley Weir began using nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, in 2020 after being introduced to it while working at a restaurant. Kennedy Newsand MediaAshley Weir was found dead a home surrounded by nitrous oxide canisters[/caption]Kennedy Newsand MediaHer mum, Carissa, believes her daughter died from an overdose (Pictured: Carissa with little Ashley)[/caption]Her mum, Carissa Garabedian, explained how the 30-year-old started using small cartridges – traditionally sold to make whipped cream – before progressing to larger tanks.
The 58-year-old said Ashley would often buy multiple canisters a day and, despite numerous attempts to get clean, struggled to overcome her addiction. “She did a number of stints in rehab, each time vowing she’d quit for good,” the mum from Virgina, US, recalled.In 2021, after spending a month in a treatment facility, Ashley managed to stay sober for two years.
However, in August 2023, she relapsed. Tragically, Ashley passed away on November 29, 2024, after being found dead in her bed at her home in Pompano Beach, Florida. “She was found unresponsive in her bed with nitrous oxide tanks around her,” said Carissa.
“All we know at the moment is that it was an accidental overdose caused by nitrous oxide but we’re still waiting for the full autopsy report,” she added. In the US, nitrous oxide is not classified as a controlled substance, and while possession is legal under federal law, selling or distributing it for human consumption is illegal.In the UK, nitrous oxide has recently become a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
That is the same classification as anabolic steroids and some tranquilisers.This makes possession and selling it for recreational purposes a criminal offence.Those caught with nitrous oxide for unlawful use face a caution, community service or an unlimited fine.
Repeat offenders could serve up to two years in prison.The maximum sentence for production or supply of the drug for unlawful purposes is 14 years.Carissa said: “I never thought I was going to lose her to this.
“I’m continuing to struggle every day with the finality of it all. Nitrous oxide - the factsNITROUS oxide - also known as laughing gas or hippy crack - was recently made a Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug.It can cause a range of health issues and in some cases can even be fatal.
Some common side effects from inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and weakness in legs, according to a study on its risks published to the National Library of Medicine.Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users might also feel anxious or paranoid.
According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide bulbs is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers – handheld devices used to ‘crack’ open canister – can cause frostbite on the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords.The icy chill of the gas canisters can also cause cold burns to the hands.
Long term, heavy use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes.Lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord.
In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been linked to thromboembolic events – this means a blood clot has gotten stuck and caused an obstruction.The so-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths.“She was full of life and love and was an amazing individual with a heart of gold.
“I feel like I’m expected to live every day with part of me that’s completely broken.”The mum believes the availability of nitrous oxide contributed to Ashley’s struggles: “I think she always wanted to stop and she just couldn’t. There’s nothing safe about nitrous oxide – in any form or any amountCarissa Garabedian“She was in therapy and had a sponsor, but the laughing gas was so readily available with no limitations.
“She could buy it online or at the gas station, and no one would know she was taking it.”Carissa continued: “I think that in her mental state, she had the inability to understand the consequences and the damage that was being done. “The legality of it all made it a very confusing thing.
Why would it be sold everywhere if it was that dangerous?”Kennedy Newsand MediaThe mum believes the availability of nitrous oxide contributed to Ashley’s struggles[/caption]Kennedy Newsand MediaPictured: left to right: Ashley Weir, 30, Mark Garabedian, 60, Carissa Garabedian, 58, Mark Garabedian Jr, 22, and Sophia Garabedian, 24[/caption]Now, Carissa is determined to warn others about the dangers of using nitrous oxide recreationally. “I believe that many don’t realise the impact nitrous oxide has on your body—the deprivation of oxygen and the damage it does to organs. “It’s a very debilitating and obviously deadly substance that is not being recognised by so many and is continuing to be sold.
”She is particularly concerned about the widespread sale of nitrous oxide at vape shops.More should be done to keep this off the shelves for public saleCarissa Garabedian“Do vape shops really need to be selling these tank-sized cans of nitrous oxide? “No one is walking into a vape shop to buy it for whipped cream or for dentists or doctors. It’s very misleading.
”Carissa firmly believes that if nitrous oxide were less accessible, Ashley’s struggle might have been different.“I 100 per cent believe that if it wasn’t so readily available, it would have been more challenging for Ashley to stop taking it,” she said.“There’s nothing safe about nitrous oxide – in any form or any amount,” Carissa concluded.
“More should be done to keep this off the shelves for public sale. There’s no reason the average person needs to be able to buy this.”Kennedy Newsand MediaAshely tried to stay sober but relapsed in August 2023[/caption].
