Addiction to over-the-counter product leaves 31-year-old partially paralyzed: ‘I couldn’t flip a pancake’
A 31-year-old woman named Lu described how her addiction to nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, led to partial paralysis and permanent spinal injuries. She reportedly inhaled between 1,200 and 2,400 canisters daily at the peak of her addiction, losing motor function and experiencing psychosis. Despite serious health risks, nitrous oxide canisters remain easily accessible online and are largely unregulated by federal agencies in Australia.
- ▪Lu lost all motor function and could not walk, grip a fork, or flip a pancake due to her nitrous oxide addiction.
- ▪She inhaled up to 2,400 nitrous oxide canisters a day, suffering hallucinations, psychosis, and permanent spinal damage.
- ▪Another user, Sam, used up to 50 canisters daily and experienced a mental breakdown requiring psychiatric hospitalization.
- ▪Nitrous oxide is not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, with oversight left to state and territory governments.
- ▪In Western Australia, only registered food and beverage businesses can purchase nitrous oxide canisters, while Victoria and South Australia prohibit sale for human consumption.
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World News Addiction to over-the-counter product leaves 31-year-old partially paralyzed: ‘I couldn’t flip a pancake’ By Bianca Soldani, News.com.au Published May 2, 2026, 11:27 a.m. ET Originally Published by: A 31-year-old woman has described how her addiction to an easy to access product left her partially paralysed. The use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as a recreational drug has been on the rise since Covid, with inhalation of the chemical compound inducing momentary feelings of euphoria. However, the colloquial name of the gas belies its dangers and misuse can cause significant health impacts including lasting nerve and neurological damage, spinal degeneration and death.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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