Addict paralysed by nitrous oxide bulb
The Medical Journal of Australia has revealed a young woman recovering from a heroin addiction has been paralysed by sniffing nitrous oxide from whipped cream charger bulbs.
Dan Lubman from the Orygen Youth Health Centre says most users on the party scene consider the use of the bulbs, or 'nangs', to be safe.
He says it is tragic that the woman, who was on a methadone program and malnourished, was badly hurt by her 20-bulb-a-day habit.
"I think the issue is, we have different views about which drugs are dangerous and which aren't dangerous and certainly in this case, nitrous oxide is seen as relatively benign and not very problematic," he said.
"For her in fact it has caused a substantial problem."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/18/2036519.htm