A Melbourne Nangs man with a degree in astrophysics and an IQ in the top few per cent has a crippling addiction to nangs. His tiny flat is littered with hundreds, if not thousands, of used whipped cream chargers – known as nangs – some piled in a box sent by a late-night delivery service.

NITROUS OXIDE CHARGERS & Melbourne Nangs

Whip-eez brand nitrous oxide chargers are made in Europe and are of the highest quality. Nitrous Oxide, or N2O, is an inert food-grade gas packaged in standard 8 gram chargers that fit most screw valve dispensers (iSi, Mosa, Rotass). Chargers are used to make whipped cream, as well as to garnish gourmet foods and soft drinks. They contain nitrous oxide in a steel cylinder with a narrow end that is punctured to release the gas.

NITROUS OXIDE DELIVERY

The dangerous gas and its canisters, designed to aerate cream, are once again being sold for home delivery across Australia. The Melbourne Nangs, also known as nozzle’s, bulbs or whippets, are now offered for sale online, and many businesses claim to offer 24/7 delivery. They are advertised on Instagram and TikTok, as well as via websites easily found with a Google search. Most suggest they are for baking, and many include recipes for the desserts that can be made using the nangs.

Darren Roberts, medical director of NSW Poisons Information Centre, said one-off recreational use was “relatively low risk”, but extensive inhalation could lead to irreparable damage to the nervous system. The symptoms are often numbness, tingling and problems moving. He said it was unclear how many people used nangs, as most were not reported to police. The number of calls to the poisons hotline jumped from 42 and 45 in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to 111 this year.

Although nangs are legal to buy, some experts argue more should be done to prevent misuse. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has now required that all nangs carry the warning “do not inhale”. In NSW and Victoria, it is illegal to sell them to anyone you suspect will misuse them. The TGA is considering new restrictions on the sale of Melbourne Nangs, including purchase limits and age restrictions.

NITROUS OXIDE ON DEMAND

Nitrous oxide is widely used as a party drug in small cartridges designed to make whipped cream. The dangerous gas is ingested for a 20-30 second high and has been linked to two deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations in Australia. The cartridges and canisters are available online, with delivery services offering the dangerous substances for as little as $5 each.

Despite being relatively harmless to young users, frequent and heavy use can cause long-term damage. Repeated inhalation of nitrous oxide disables vitamin B12, causing deficiency that affects the nerves that control muscles. In a 20-year-old patient, this caused permanent weakness and balance problems.

Inhalants can also cause a wide range of other harmful side effects, including sudden sniffing death syndrome, heart attacks, high blood pressure, numbness in the feet and hands, depression and memory loss. Shanelle Royal, team leader for alcohol and drugs at Queensland’s Lives Lived Well, says many people who misuse nangs do not realise the dangers of their addiction.

Melbourne Nangs delivery businesses advertise on Instagram and TikTok, as well as websites easy to find through a Google search. They promote their products as baking supplies and encourage customers to use them for making desserts. They even offer recipes for whipped cream on their websites. While some delivery services claim to cater to bakers, most suggest they are not their primary clientele.

NITROUS OXIDE DISPENSER

Choosing the right dispenser & Melbourne Nangs is essential to ensure the best results. You can choose from a variety of models, each with different features. You’ll want to consider the materials used and how comfortable the bottle and arm lever are to use. It’s also important to choose one that can handle hot and cold liquids.

Dispensers are designed to hold and whip a wide range of foods, from whipped cream to soups, sauces, and alcoholic drinks. They work by pressurizing the air inside with the help of nitrous oxide cartridges, which have gas under high pressure. The whipped cream is then dispensed with the push of a button. Some dispensers are made of aluminum, while others are made of stainless steel. Aluminum dispensers are more durable and long-lasting than plastic models.

When choosing a cream dispenser, you’ll need to decide whether you want to buy one that’s dishwasher-safe or not. It’s also a good idea to look for a model that has several decorating nozzles, as this can make the whipped cream more appealing and attractive. Some models even come with replacement nitrous oxide cartridges and recipe books as a bonus.

The iSi Professional foam dispenser is dishwasher-safe and has a removable piston for easy cleaning. It also has reinforced threads that are designed for durability. This dispenser can be used with both warm and cold liquids, and it’s compatible with all standard 8gm nitrous oxide cartridges. It’s also resistant to rust and corrosion, making it an excellent choice for commercial kitchens.