Use of ‘Nangs’ has become popular within the last few years in Sydney. Nangs or also called “whippets” in some countries, it is actually nitrous oxide (N2O) gas canisters that is commonly found with whipped cream dispensers but are inhaled to get recreational high and intense feel.
Introduction to Nangs
Nitrous oxide commonly called ‘laughing gas’ is not new to medical and industrial uses. It is used by dentists for anesthetic purposes, and by chefs for use in a whipped cream dispenser. This gas is stored in small tender, cylindrical, strong steel canisters in the kitchen under very high pressure, and when it is released, it disperses itself in the mass of whipping cream very, very quickly. However, through time people learned that Nitrous oxide if inhaled will produce a hilarious effect and thus it became a recreational product. As an inhaled substance, numerous puffs offer a rapid yet strong ‘high’, characterized by dizziness, pleasure or joy or some cases: laughing gas. The high usually lasts for less than a minute, but, for many of the users, the feeling is good enough to make them breathe several canisters during the session.
The Rise of Nangs in Sydney
- Recently the use of Nangs in Sydney for recreational purpose has become common among youths especially during parties, festival and other related occasions.
- Another reason for a large flow of Nangs in Sydney is the availability of Nangs products. Nitrous oxide canisters can be purchased from most supermarkets, chemists, convenience stores, and, of course, various stores specializing in kitchen accessories and equipment and Internet shops; originally, they always resembled whipped cream chargers. These canisters are perfectly legal to buy and can go in large quantities. It has become even easier for the people to take Nangs recreationally because in Sydney, there are Nangs delivery services that bring Nangs to your door just like food delivery software.
- On the other hand the social media influencers have contributed to the growth of the use of Nangs Sydney among the youth. The participants and devotees share videos and photos of themselves chewing the gas in parties and are anxious to follow a trend. Over time and due to its popularity Nangs has become one of the most common features of Sydney at night and during parties.
- Unlike other recreational drugs, N20 is easily accessible in Sydney without involving drug peddlers as well as without exploring the legal chemistries of the substance. Nangs come in small red and blue cans containing 10, 20 or 50 of them in very cheap prices when compared to other substances.
Legality and Regulation of Nangs in Sydney
Indeed, one of the main interests that people have with regards to Nangs is the fact that they are technically legal but not entirely lawful. Currently in Sydney Nangs use is legal if used in connection with food preparation since there aren’t laws that make it illegal for an individual to sell or possess the substance for this purpose. Therefore, Nangs are available over the counter from kitchen equipment stores and aspiring delivery services that harness same-day delivery in Sydney and other regions under the influence of recreationally useful drug sales.
Nangs Sydney falls under some of the drug misuse laws if large quantities of it are found with a person. Many governmental bodies have raised alarm concerning growing consumption of Nangs and there has been debate of increasing measures required for the shops to sell them. Several stores have gone further and stop selling Nangs to people below the age of 18 in an effort to minimize on their usage. Nevertheless, the problem of easy accessibility of Nangs remains unsolved, creating difficulties for police work on law enforcement, mainly because of their legal classification as a food product.
The Risks and Dangers of Nangs
While Nangs may be considered to be less dangerous but Nangs are not totally risk free. Inhalation of nitrous oxide has various desired and undesired short-term effects. The first acute threat is the lack of oxygen, because the user breathes in nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. Hindering the delivery of oxygen to the brain for the period of high, in turn results in dizziness, fainting and in severe cases; loss of consciousness may be expected.
It also has long term effects if one or several Nangs are consumed repeatedly or continually for an extended period of time. It lowers the level of vitamin B12 in the human body, an important nutrient that is vital to the health of the human nervous system. Also, negative effects associated with the excessive use of Nangs include; detrimental effects on the cognitive functionality and memory.
Apart from such effects, there is also the actual possibility to get physical injuries. Since Nitrous oxide is stored at high pressure the canisters freezers when vented, and thus there is a possibility of the user getting frost bite on the areas that are exposed such as the skin or lips. Additionally, inhalation exposure from the canister itself is extremely unsafe, for pressurized gases that are contained within the chamber can lead to contraction of the lungs or suffocated the person if they misuse the container.
Nonetheless, deaths from Nangs are very minimal but deaths have been reported to have occurred due to the use nitrous oxide whether alone or in combination with alcohol or when a person is drunk or in any other environment in which the person becomes unconscious.
Challenges of Social and Cultural Perspectives for Nangs Sydney
The increase in Nangs usage in Sydney can be related to some sociocultural and cultural factors. The ability to consume Nangs in different social gatherings especially among the youth draws the desire for new and cheaper means to changing consciousness without the consequences of hard substances. But it also provokes many questions about social expectations that drive youth to look for such experiences.
Conclusion
Nangs are considered hard to replace in Sydney because it is cheap and easily accessible. But their increasing use has taken people’s concern on their safety, legalities, and impacts on the society in the long run. Despite nitrous oxide still being legally acceptable to use in cooking, its use as Nangs is still a gray area in law. This will need to be managed as the phenomenon continues to develop in Sydney and using and selling sites become more widespread so the numbers are also likely to increase thus the need to make sure that users and the authorities understand the dangers in selling and buying through the Internet and thus taking precautions especially in Sydney’s ever changing social structure.