QUEENSLAND is facing mounting pressure to crack down on recreational nitrous oxide use, with a national campaigner warning that young Australians remain dangerously exposed to the potentially harmful gas through unrestricted online sales and rapid home delivery.
No2Nangs founder Sam Bramman is leading calls for Queensland to follow New South Wales, where sweeping new restrictions on the sale and distribution of nangs will take effect on November 5.
Mr Bramman, who suffered drug-induced psychosis after using nangs at just 19, has secured an upcoming meeting with Queensland Health through Health Minister Tim Nicholls’ office to push for stronger regulation.
He is also pursuing reforms in Tasmania, while the Australian Capital Territory has indicated it intends to follow NSW’s lead.
Under the NSW laws, nitrous oxide sales to anyone under 18 will be prohibited, purchases capped at 250 grams daily and retail sales of cylinders exceeding 10 grams banned.
Sales between 10pm and 5am and same-day deliveries will also be prohibited, with retailers facing penalties of up to $11,000 per offence.
The urgency is reflected in NSW hospital figures, with 405 emergency department presentations mentioning nitrous oxide recorded in 2025, compared with 305 in 2024.
Medical experts warn prolonged or heavy use can interfere with vitamin B12 function, potentially causing permanent nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and serious psychological complications.
While Queensland has strengthened powers to seize nitrous oxide canisters during enforcement operations targeting illegal tobacco and vaping products, Mr Bramman believes significant loopholes remain.
He pointed to one delivery company, which he said advertised more than 360,000 completed Queensland orders, with around-the-clock delivery available in under an hour.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland also raised concerns in March 2025, warning inadequate regulation posed a growing public health risk.
For Mr Bramman, the fight is deeply personal.
After experiencing drug-induced psychosis at 19, he turned to running as part of his recovery before transforming his experience into a national campaign.
In June 2026, he ran approximately 300 kilometres from Sydney to Parliament House demanding stronger restrictions, later standing alongside NSW Health Minister Ryan Park when the reforms were announced.
“Nangs are causing serious harm across Australia, and these reforms are a major step toward addressing it,” he said.
“If these laws help even one young person avoid the road that I went down, it will be worth it.”
