NOS, nangs, whip-its, bulbs, laughing gas, cream chargers - you may have heard this lingo being thrown around, and it all refers to the same thing: nitrous oxide.
It comes in small metal canisters that can be legally sold for the purpose of whipping cream, but the reason many people buy them is to inhale the gas for a short-lived, euphoric high.
There are some side effects that include spinal cord damage in rare cases. This year alone, Auckland hospital has had nine patients turn up unable to walk from inhaling too much nitrous oxide.
In 2005, the Medicines Act was amended to outlaw the sale or purchase of nitrous oxide canisters for the purposes of inhaling the gas. Those who sell canisters for inhalation can be prosecuted for illegally selling a prescription medicine and either jailed for up to six months or fined up to $40,000.
But how easy is it to buy nangs and how closely do retailers follow the law?
Paddy Gower Has Issues visited several dairies and vape stores across Auckland with a hidden camera to answer that question.
During the investigation, I made it clear my intention was to inhale the nitrous oxide through a balloon. I definitely wasn't hiding the fact I didn't want to bake a cake which makes it illegal to sell to me, yet I still managed to buy the nangs.
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Several vape stores also sold nitrous oxide which seemed bizarre - why would someone legitimately buy baking equipment at a vape store?
At one store there was a shelf dedicated just to nangs and crackers, but no other baking equipment in sight.
Surprisingly, the worker admitted to me he "wasn't supposed to call it that" when I asked for NOS, but proceeded to sell it to me and asked if I wanted balloons and a cracker too.
The investigation revealed just how incredibly easy it is to buy nangs in New Zealand.
But as a 23-year-old, I wonder if someone 10 years younger would find it more difficult.
So I enlisted the help of 13-year-old Heidi who visited several dairies asking for cream chargers - which is the legal way of buying nitrous oxide.
Interestingly, every dairy Heidi visited refused to sell her nitrous oxide. She was either asked how old she was or for ID.
It seems most stores are essentially self-policing the sale of nangs by only selling it to adults.
There was one last aspect to the sale of nangs we wanted to test, and that's ordering them online. Just like Ubereats, you can put in an order and they'll be delivered straight to your door within 45 minutes.
On the website when you fill in your details, you're required to tick a box to say you're over the age of 18. When the cream chargers showed up at my door, the man also asked to see my ID.
I had a quick chat with the delivery driver who confessed Saturday nights are their busiest time. As he was leaving, he said "have fun".
Sure, whipping cream could be fun, but did he hand over the 'cream chargers' to me thinking I have other intentions with them?
Just like dairies, the online websites that sell nitrous oxide are taking it upon themselves to restrict sales to minors. This is not against the law, so they must think minors are intending on inhaling it, hence mitigating sales to anyone under age.
While New Zealand retailers are self-policing the sale of nangs, the United Kingdom is going further. Nitrous oxide will soon be categorised as a Class C drug over there, meaning anyone using it unlawfully could be sent to jail for two years.
Here in Aotearoa, no such strict measures are planned, but Medsafe is looking at tightening the rules around them. In a statement, Medsafe said it is "actively looking at whether mechanisms in the Medicines Act can be used to further restrict the retail supply of these products".
Patrick Gower hosts Paddy Gower Has Issues - watch it on Three or ThreeNow.
