A 26-year-old woman from east London has been left with permanent nerve damage after becoming addicted to nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. Kerry-Anne Donaldson began using the drug at age 18 and eventually consumed nearly 100 canisters daily, leading to paralysis and reliance on a wheelchair.
Speaking to BBC Radio London, Ms Donaldson described how the drug initially gave her a 'lightheaded buzz for five seconds,' but she quickly craved that feeling again and again. Her usage escalated from occasional party use to taking up to four packs of 24 canisters every day, totalling almost 700 a week. She would take the drug alone in her bedroom, unaware of the harm it was causing.
Five years after starting, she woke up with no sensation in her legs and arms and was taken to hospital. Doctors diagnosed a nitrous oxide overdose, vitamin B12 deficiency, and permanent nerve damage. Ms Donaldson now uses a wheelchair and warns others: 'No-one should be doing balloons because it's only going to damage your body and can leave you fully bed-bound.'
Possession of nitrous oxide became a criminal offence in the UK in 2023, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. Supply or production can result in up to 14 years. However, Ms Donaldson supports the law in principle but fears it may deter users from seeking medical help. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has also warned of 'significant unintended consequences' from the tougher law.
