31-year-old left partially paralysed after nitrous oxide ‘nangs’ addiction
A young woman says she lost the ability to walk after becoming addicted to something widely available across Australia.
A 31-year-old woman has revealed how a dangerous addiction to a widely available product left her partially paralysed and unable to walk.
The use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” or “nangs”, has surged in recent years as a recreational drug, despite serious health risks linked to its misuse.
Lu, 31, said her dependency spiralled to extreme levels, with the woman inhaling up to 2400 small canisters a day at the height of her addiction.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I lost all motor function,” she told A Current Affair on Friday night, “I couldn’t flip a pancake, I couldn’t grip a fork, I couldn’t walk.”
“I was army crawling around my house, like dragging myself, because I couldn’t move my legs when it got really, really bad.
“It was terrifying.”
Her condition has since been linked to permanent spinal cord injuries, with nitrous oxide abuse known to cause severe neurological damage, including nerve issues, spinal degeneration and, in some cases, death.
Lu also suffered psychosis and disturbing hallucinations as her addiction took hold, describing the experience as “devastating and completely life consuming”.
Another former user, Sam, told the program he was consuming up to 50 canisters a day before suffering a mental breakdown that resulted in a stay in a psychiatric ward.
Despite its dangers, nitrous oxide remains relatively easy to obtain, with small canisters sold online and through some retailers for legitimate purposes such as food preparation and medical use.
Users face risks including asphyxiation, dizziness, weakness and memory loss, while fatalities have also occurred due to injuries sustained while under the influence.
Regulation of the substance varies across Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has previously confirmed it does not oversee the sale of nitrous oxide products.
“The TGA does not regulate the sale of nitrous oxide. Under the Poisons Standard, monitoring of compliance and enforcement of the controls on access to nitrous oxide is the responsibility of the states and territories,” a spokesperson said.
Laws differ by jurisdiction, with some states restricting sales or imposing penalties where the product is knowingly supplied for human consumption.
