7 Things You Should Know About Nitrous Oxide AKA Balloon Gas

Apr 04, 2024

NDLEA has announced a nationwide clamp down on the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide AKA “Balloon Gas”. Here’s all you need to know from the POV of a user, a seller and a medical expert.

Brigadier General Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is clamping down on the recreational use and sale of nitrous oxide (N20) AKA “Balloon Gas” across the country.

Source: RehabsUK

Here are seven key things to note about nitrous oxide according to a user, a seller and a medical expert.

Nitrous oxide is sold in canisters

Source: UbuyNigeria

“There are different sizes, but you’ll always find them in canisters that look just like the one for insecticide or spray polish for shoes.”

You need balloons

“The gas cannot be ingested directly from the canister, and that’s why you need balloons. The balloon is fitted around the valve of the canister and N20 is pumped inside. You can pump as much gas as you want depending on the size of the balloon. It’s the balloon you see people suck on at parties or clubs. ”

Ingesting from the canisters will hurt you

“You’ll get hurt if you attempt to ingest N20 directly from the canister. The gas is sealed under high pressure, so when it’s released for use, it’s extremely cold. You’ll get frostbite from direct contact.”

It’s expensive

“The first time I tried it was at a nightclub, and I remember we paid as much as ₦50k for a can similar to a large-size insecticide. That’s a lot compared to weed which is like ₦5k for a wrap of Canadian loud and ₦100-₦200 for the locally grown type. But I was with friends and it was easy to split the bill. Alone, I’ll put a lot of thought into spending that much.

It’s a different kind of high

“I knew I felt good and really calm after taking it, but I was really drowsy. I also felt this weakness in my bones, but I was still able to enjoy the party and have a great time. The feeling eventually wore off because I had just one balloon.”

It’s anaesthesia for surgical patients

“No one in their right mind should be ingesting nitrous oxide without a prescription from medical personnel or supervision at the very least. This is because it is an anaesthesia that’s mostly used on patients during surgical operations. Even then, it’s not administered alone because it can lead to loss of life. The patient is also given oxygen. The recommended dosage for surgery is 20 ppm (parts per million).”

There’s an abundance of health risks

“Prolonged and unsupervised use can cause serious damage to the brain, resulting in memory loss. Users can also experience side effects like heart attacks, a sharp drop in blood pressure and sudden loss of life.