NZ ‘shouldn’t follow’ overseas bans on ‘nangs’

WATCH: Bella Ireland explore 'nang' usage on the streets on Tāmaki Makaurau

An overseas ban on nitrous oxide (nangs) purchases has sparked debate in Aotearoa, as experts say New Zealand shouldn’t follow suit.

In Western Australia, from the second half of 2024, nitrous oxide canisters will only be accessible to registered food and beverage businesses.

These canisters are commonly referred to as ‘nangs’ when inhaled as a recreational drug, but also serve multiple purposes in medical and kitchen settings.

In New Zealand, it is legal to sell canisters for food preparation purposes, but selling for inhalation can lead to up to six months jail time or a $40,000 fine.

The NZ Drug Foundation warns of risks associated with inhaling nangs, such as frostbite-type burns, hypoxia, potential falls due to light-headedness, and vitamin B12 deficiency resulting in nerve damage from long-term use in large amounts.

Auckland city hospital reported a rise in severe spinal injuries linked to nitrous oxide abuse last year, with six cases in the five months following March 2023 compared to none in 2022.

Despite this, nitrous oxide was rated as the lowest risk for drug related harm in a study by the University of Otago.

In February this year, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Dunedin (SSDP) successfully shut down an online retailer offering 24/7 delivery of nitrous oxide to students.

However, Max Phillips, President of SSDP Dunedin says “SSDP Ōtepoti, Dunedin does not support the regulations proposed by the WA government”

“The criminalisation of drugs is intrinsically harmful…  by further restricting nitrous oxide, suppliers will instead sell products on the black market, resulting in a less regulated and potentially more harmful product.”

Sarah Helm, Executive Director for the NZ Drug Foundation says, “A prohibition approach hasn't worked to reduce harm for any other substance and has in fact created far more harm.

“We’d be much more interested in an approach to sensibly regulate all lower harm substances rather than apply more failed prohibition thinking to a relatively lower harm substance”

Max supports this, stating “Sensible nitrous oxide policy would instead centralise the sale of nitrous oxide.  This would prevent the black-market sale of unregulated products and allow licensed suppliers to provide a safer product alongside adequate harm reduction.”

Amid the changing rules in WA, it’s clear that New Zealand’s current regulations are not working to stop nitrous oxide abuse.

While WA’s approach may not be suitable for NZ, it is clear past health impacts from this abuse have been significant.