Pubdate: Wed, 24 May 2000 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/ Author: Deepa Bharath NITROUS OXIDE ARRESTS NO LAUGHING MATTER Police Apprehend Five Teens On Suspicion Of Possessing The Anesthetic Gas But Say Its Use Locally Are Rare. YORBA LINDA--Police arrested five teenagers last week on suspicion of possessing nitrous oxide. But use of the so-called "laughing gas" is not prevalent in Yorba Linda or Brea, officials said Tuesday. Nitrous oxide is a sweet-smelling gas that when inhaled can cause elation, dizziness or intoxication. People who inhale it can experience confusion and physical impairment. An overdose even can lead to coma or death. The incident involving three boys and two girls reported to have happened May 18 on Cranberry Lane does not necessarily indicate a trend of nitrous oxide use among local teens, said Sgt. Gary Drlik of the Brea Police Department, which serves Yorba Linda. The drugs most commonly found in these communities are marijuana and methamphetamine, he said. But even a stray incident such as this is cause for concern, he added. "Any time there's any type of activity that affects people in a bad way, we're very concerned," Drlik said. Inhaling the gas even may cut oxygen supply and lead to a cardiac arrest, he said. Users usually pump the gas into balloons or buy it in canisters, Drlik said. Possession of the gas with intention to use it is considered a misdemeanor according to the California Penal Code. No further information was available about the teenagers because they are minors. But officials said punishment for such offenses varies, depending on the seriousness of the action. Usually, the teenagers are released to their parents, said Cpl. Dan Hunter, a patrol officer. In cases where, for instance, violence is involved, they may be transported to juvenile hall, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder