NOS is a colourless gas sold in canisters, usually inhaled using a balloon.
Also called:
- Balloons
- Chargers
- Hippie Crack
- Laughing Gas
- Nos
- Noz
- Whippits
Quick info
How the drug works varies from person to person
- How you might feel
- Relaxed, giggly, sound distortions and/or dizzy, anxious, paranoid.
- Read moreabout how it feels
- Effects on your body
- Can give you a headache and/or stop you thinking straight.
- Read moreabout effects on your body
- How long it takes to work
- Usually immediately.
- Read moreabout how long it takes to work
- How long the effects last
- 1 - 2 mins on average.
- Read moreabout how long the effects last
- Common risks
- It’s more dangerous inhaling directly from the canister. It can be hard to judge how many balloons to use. Too much nitrous oxide can make you faint, lose consciousness, or suffocate.
- Read moreabout the risks
- Mixing drugs
- Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.
- Read moreabout mixing with other drugs
What does it look like?
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that’s most commonly found in pressurised metal canisters.
You may have seen these shiny metal canisters or 'whippets' lying around in streets outside bars and nightclubs.
What does it taste/smell like?
Some people say that the gas has a slightly sweet smell and taste.
Nitrous oxide is inhaled.
People open the canister, transfer the gas into a container (usually a balloon), then inhale from the balloon.
Inhaling nitrous oxide directly from the canister is very dangerous because the gas is under such high pressure and it comes out as extremely cold. This can damage your throat and lungs, stop you breathing or slow your heart to a dangerous level.
Using nitrous oxide directly from a large canister makes it harder to keep track of how much you are taking so you're more likely to suffer the negative effects of using a lot of gas.
How does it make you feel?
Nitrous oxide slows down your brain and your body’s responses, and the effects of the drug varies depending on how much has been inhaled.
Taking nitrous oxide can cause:
- feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness
- fits of giggles and laughter – hence the nickname ‘laughing gas’
- sound distortions and hallucinations – when you see or hear things that aren't there
Nitrous oxide can also:
- give you a severe headache
- cause dizziness
- stop you thinking straight
- cause short-lived but intense feelings of paranoia
How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.
Nitrous oxide is often taken in combination with other drugs. So its effects can be unpredictable, as it depends on what other drugs are being taken with it.
It is a short acting drug which can lead to people to frequently re-dose and end up using more than they intended.
Physical health risks
It is very dangerous to inhale nitrous oxide directly from the canister, and doing it in an enclosed space is also very dangerous.
Never place a plastic bag over your head.
If you take too much nitrous oxide you risk falling unconscious and/or suffocating from the lack of oxygen. People have died this way.
Dizziness, which might make you act carelessly or dangerously.
Heavy regular use of nitrous oxide can lead to a deficiency of vitamin B12 and to a form of anaemia. Severe B12 deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes. This can be very painful and make walking difficult. It can even lead to paralysis, and the damage may be lasting.
Regular use can stop you forming white blood cells properly.
It can be hard to judge the amount to use safely. If you have too much you can end up fainting, having an accident or worse.
Is it dangerous to mix with other drugs?
Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.
What happens if I mix Nitrous oxide and
Can you get addicted?
It may be possible to become psychologically dependent on nitrous oxide, meaning that users develop an increased desire to keep using it despite the harm it may cause, but the evidence on this is limited.
In anecdotal reports, some people have reported developing cravings or feelings that they want to continue using nitrous oxide.
Class: C
This is a Class C drug, which means it's illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.
Possession can get you up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.
If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.
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