Health Canada Warns Against Recreational Use of Nitrous Oxide
Health Canada is warning people not to inhale nitrous oxide for fun, saying it can cause serious health problems. The government is also taking action against illegal sales and imports of the product.
Nitrous oxide is sometimes called “laughing gas,” “whippets,” “hippy crack,” “NOS,” or “nang.” People sometimes misuse it by breathing it in from whipped cream chargers or pressurized gas canisters.
Health Canada says these products are not safe to breathe in and should not be used this way. If they are sold to be inhaled, they are treated as drugs and are strictly regulated.
Nitrous oxide can be safe when used by doctors or dentists to help with pain or during surgery. But using it for fun—called “huffing”—can be very dangerous. It can cause people to pass out, have heart problems, strokes, nerve damage, or even die.
Using it over and over can lead to long-term health problems, like permanent nerve damage, numbness, trouble walking, or even paralysis. It can also be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms or problems with thinking and moving.
Health Canada has already taken some illegal nitrous oxide products off the market. Some were being sold under names like:
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Bamboozle
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Need Whip
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Primewhip
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Primewhip XL
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Space Gas
These products may be labeled as whipped cream chargers but are sold in places you wouldn’t expect and in sizes that aren’t used for normal food use.
Even though it’s illegal to sell or advertise nitrous oxide for breathing in, Health Canada says some stores and websites are still selling it. The Canada Border Services Agency has also stopped several illegal shipments, and more enforcement is happening.
If you or someone you know has used nitrous oxide and is feeling unwell, get medical help right away.
You can also report illegal sales, strange packaging, or health problems from these products to Health Canada.
For poison emergencies, call 1-844-POISON-X, or if you’re in Quebec, call 1-800-463-5060.
To learn more or report a problem, visit Health Canada’s recalls and safety alerts website.
