‘Nangs ‘ are small metal cylinders of nitrous oxide (N2O) commonly used for whipping cream. They can be bought legally in kitchen stores and whipped into the air to create a 20-second high. Nitrous oxide is a useful drug in medical settings – dentists use it as an anaesthetic, doctors administer it to women in labour – but recreational use can have serious side effects, including a distorted sense of hearing and disconnection from your surroundings, short euphoria, blurred vision and loss of coordination.

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Last year a girl in her 20s was left paralysed after using 360 nangs in a week, suffering nerve damage to her spine. Now she can’t walk and may never regain feeling in her legs or feet. A Sydney teenager also fell to her death from a Surfers Paradise balcony while under the influence of nangs during an end-of-exams Schoolies trip.

Nangs can have dangerous side effects if mixed with other drugs and alcohol. They can mask the effects of alcohol and make you feel more drunk than you actually are, and cause a short-lived feeling of euphoria. They can also slow your reaction times, making you more likely to trip or fall.

It’s important to be aware of the risks of nangs, particularly if you are going to a festival or party. Don’t litter – put unused canisters in the bins provided or take them home to recycle. It’s a good idea to regularly take B12 vitamins after using nangs as nitrous oxide depletes your body’s supply of it.