Vape shop tells staff it will stop selling nitrous oxide in all its stores

A popular vape shop will stop using a legal loophole to sell nitrous oxide this month, staff have been told.

Internal communications reveal Shosha has decided to stop selling the gas, used for recreational purposes by some customers, in all its New Zealand stores from 11.59pm on May 16.

Shosha has been selling nitrous oxide and equipment under a loophole designed to let the baking industry sell the gas for whipping cream.

As a gas, nitrous oxide is also used in medical settings for sedation and pain relief.

Known by recreational users as NOS or “nangs”, the gas can be inhaled, creating feelings of detachment or intense joy.

More extreme side effects can include numbness, confusion, or can even lead to hospitalisation.

Though not chemically addictive, long-term use can lead to psychological dependence, according to the Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

Banned from recreational sale in New Zealand in 2005 under the Medicines Act of 1981, the gas is only legally available through prescription or for approved industrial uses, including medical uses and baking.

However, the gas has become increasingly available through online stores.

One casual nitrous-oxide user, who declined to be named, said they felt online stores reduced the risks in buying nitrous oxide.

“I like that it’s a safe way to obtain it rather than going to a stranger's house,” they said.

“I don’t want to go to a drug dealer's house [or] meet them somewhere. But I would quite happily buy [NOS] online knowing all I have to do is click a button to say I’m over 18.”

A former user of the drug said the physical interactions involved in buying NOS had always been uncomfortable.

“If online stores like this existed more commonly a couple of years ago, I think I would have done nangs more often,” they said.

No user spoken to by TWN felt it was hard to obtain, with one saying it was “easier than crack” to get.

However, users disagreed over the impact of online stores, and whether such accessibility would encourage new people to try the drug.

One user felt online stores could be dangerous for people who used regularly, but equipment access and technical knowledge were also needed.

“People probably need someone who has used it before or has experience with [the] tools etc,” they said.

When discussing the way online stores promote the products and what impact it could have, one user said the uninitiated would have trouble recognising  “the underlying messages” in the marketing of the gas as a baking product.

St John New Zealand said it had experience treating patients displaying characteristics of recreational drug use, but had not noticed any increase that could be attributed to increased availability of nitrous oxide.

“While St John Ambulance often treats patients who have presented with symptoms of recreational drug use, our frontline emergency ambulance officers have not identified any significant number related to nitrous oxide use,” it said in a statement.

Likewise, Emily Hughes, programme lead for New Zealand Drug Foundation Auckland, said the organisation had not noticed a significant increase of nitrous oxide use specifically regionally or nationally.

“We currently have not been advised of increases of harm from NOS from alcohol and other drug providers,” Ms Hughes said.

"This doesn’t mean that there aren’t changes in harm, but we would expect to hear about this.”

Shosha did not respond to TWN inquiries.

The Baking Industry Association of New Zealand was also approached for comment without response.