There are empty nitrous oxide containers all over the city scape here in Oslo. They are left behind after people have finished getting high.

I’m often out and about with my camera. For several years now, I’ve noticed that there have been a lot of empty nitrous oxide containers lying around. At first, I didn’t realise what the empty containers were. It wasn’t until I saw an article about it in the newspaper (Aftenposten) that I realised it’s a legal drug that young people in particular use.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) can be bought legally because it is used in cooking, most often in cream syringes. It is not considered a drug or intoxicant in the same way as alcohol or hashish. The gas provides a short-term high (source: Oslo University Hospital)

Just because it’s legal to buy doesn’t mean that inhaling the gas is risk-free. The gas displaces oxygen from the lungs and can damage the brain and the spinal cord. Our nerve cells in particular can be damaged by the lack of oxygen, and they can tolerate less than other cells in the body (source: Forskning.no).

Another effect is littering, as my photos show. I find everything from single tanks to boxes full of empty tanks, and lots of used balloons.

The photos are part of a project I have going on, which revolves around the hashtag #oslove. I want to show a slightly different side of our city than the one you find on the tag in social media. I’m not sure at the moment how the project will develop or materialise. Maybe a zine or a separate project page here on my website.

Either way, there’s no shortage of opportunities to take photos of the aftermath of drug use here in Oslo.