A university student who huffed 360 canisters of nitrous oxide a week may have been left with irreversible damage to her spinal cord, as experts warn of a rise in popularity of the potentially deadly drug.
The young Sydney woman, who is in rehabilitation learning how to walk again, is one of a growing number of people turning to the ultra-cheap and easily accessible substance.
The canisters are usually designed for whipping cream, but experts say recreational use is on the rise as hospital admissions relating to the drug continue to soar.
This university student who huffed 360 canisters of nitrous oxide a week may have been left with irreversible damage to her spinal cord
There are a growing number of people turning to the ultra-cheap and easily accessible substance
‘Very recently I had a 20-year-old patient whose brain appeared to have the same level of damage as an alcoholic who had been drinking for 40 years,’ toxicologist Dr Andrew Dawson told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
‘We have had a doubling of the number of calls from hospitals about significantly affected people from nitrous oxide exposure,’ he said.
Dr Dawson said patients have suffered severe nerve and brain injuries, with a major spike in admissions in the last two years.
Nitrous oxide canisters – known in Australia as nangs, whippets or bulbs – sell for less than $1 each and give off an intense 20 second high.
Nitrous oxide canisters (pictured) – known in Australia as nangs, whippets or bulbs – sell for less than $1 each and give off an intense 20 second high
There have been two known deaths caused by recreational use of nitrous oxide in Australia since 2010, according to the broadcaster.
Sometimes dubbed ‘laughing gas’, it is now the seventh most popular drug in the 50 countries surveyed in the latest Global Drug Survey.
Nitrous oxide is a colourless, sweet tasting gas that has been used recreationally since the late 18th century.
Medical use was established in the early 20th century and nitrous oxide remains an important anaesthetic used by dentists, obstetricians and sports doctors.
There have been two known deaths caused by recreational use of nitrous oxide in Australia since 2010. The substance is often put it a balloon and inhaled
Sometimes dubbed ‘laughing gas’, it is now the seventh most popular drug in the 50 countries surveyed in the latest Global Drug Survey