MELBOURNE party-goers are using nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" as a recreational drug at festivals and parties, despite the serious dangers involved.
By TESS PAPANIKOLAOU
MELBOURNE revellers are sucking up dangerous doses of nitrous oxide, often known as laughing gas, as a cheap alternative to party drugs.
Nitrous oxide, also known as "nangs", is used as an inhalant and has become the latest craze in recreational drug taking in Melbourne's party scene.
The issue caused international headlines this week when young Liverpool soccer star Raheem Sterling was reprimanded by his club after he was videotaped allegedly inhaling the gas before passing out. Another player was also reprimanded.
Australian Medical Association Victoria president Dr Tony Bartone warned young party-goers to avoid getting high on the legal drug, as it could kill in extreme cases.
“You are basically starving the brain of oxygen, as when people are inhaling nitrous (oxide), they are ineffectively displacing oxygen with the gas,” Dr Bartone said.
“We need oxygen for everything we do and if you are using nitrous (oxide), you aren’t receiving oxygen, which makes it unpredictable and very scary for users.”
The Australian Government’s Department of Health lists the potential side effects of the inhalant as including brain damage, paralysis, heart problems and sudden death.
First widely used in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s, nitrous oxide has become problematic for London police. A British Government report last year found almost half a million people aged 16-59 had used nitrous oxide in 2013-14, five times more than the previous year. Among the 16-24 age group, 7.6 per cent used nitrous oxide, almost twice as many as had used cocaine.
Laughing gas is sold on the street in canisters and balloons for $9, allowing young people easy access before going to nightclubs.
Dr Bartone said he did not see why Melbourne would not follow London’s trend of nitrous oxide being sold on the streets.
“[If] it is happening in England then there is nothing to suggest it wouldn’t happen here. We need to be diligent and not wait for it to become a problem,” he said.
A nitrous oxide user said revellers at eastern suburbs parties were sucking on the gas to get a cheap and quick fix.
“I paid $50 on eBay for 50 nangs (cream charges) and a nanginator (whipped cream canister), which was delivered to my front door with no restrictions,” the user said.
“I’ve seen someone turn blue from it and I couldn’t move for 10 seconds once, but I have never thought I could die from inhaling nitrous oxide.”
While some grocery stores sell the cream chargers containing nitrous oxide behind counters, some are selling the lethal gas in packs of 10 for $13 on their shelves.
Dr Bartone said any unrestricted substance could be a concern when it got into he hands of young and vulnerable people.
“Regulatory authorities and health authorities need to come up with a simple and effective solution as there needs to be a good reason to buy this stuff," he said.
“It is serious. It is harmful, it is detrimental and potentially lethal.”
Nitrous oxide: The facts
Street names: Nangs, whippets, bulbs
Potential physical effects: Brain damage, paralysis, pains in the chest, muscles, joints, heart trouble, severe depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, bronchial spasm, sores on nose or mouth, nosebleeds, diarrhoea, bizarre or reckless behaviour, suffocation and sudden death.
Source: Department of Health, Australian Government website, February 2014
If you would like to speak to somebody about nitrous oxide please consult a doctor or contact 1800 458 685 – a 24 hour free Youth Drugs and Alcohol Advice line.