Nitrous oxide laws now in force, but canisters still turning up at Mindarie Park

Need help? Call ADIS NSW on 1800 250 015, 24 hours, for confidential drug and alcohol support, or 000 in a medical emergency.

NSW’s long-awaited crackdown on nitrous oxide cannister sales (known as Nangs) is now law, but in Lane Cove North the canisters/nangs are still turning up.

Today, Thursday 12 November 2026, an In the Cove roving reporter found nitrous oxide canisters at the popular Mindarie Park, Lane Cove North. Our roving reporter has notified police.

It is not the first time canisters have been found at Mindarie Park. In March, the Stringybark Creek Residents Association reported finding a mix of full and empty canisters at the park during their annual Clean Up Australia day event.

Our roving reporter’s discovery comes exactly one week after the State Government’s new restrictions on the sale and supply of nitrous oxide took effect on 5 November 2026. It is not known when the canisters were bought or left in the park.

No Large Cannister Sales

Under the new rules, retailers must not:

• Sell nitrous oxide to anyone under 18
• Sell canisters containing more than 10 grams of nitrous oxide directly to consumers
• Sell more than 250 grams of nitrous oxide to one person in a single day
• Sell nitrous oxide between 10pm and 5am
• Offer same-day delivery
• Display nitrous oxide products or packaging where customers can see them

The requirements apply to retailers, wholesalers, online sellers and any business selling or distributing nitrous oxide in NSW. Access for food preparation, medical, automotive and industrial uses is unchanged.

With enforcement powers now in effect, NSW Health says it will guide retailers on compliance and may issue warnings or seize products supplied in breach of the regulation. Businesses and individuals who do not comply may also face financial penalties.

A public awareness campaign has also begun, aimed at both the community and retailers. Guidance, a fact sheet and point-of-sale signage for businesses are at health.nsw.gov.au/nitrous.

The rules target sale and supply. They do not, of themselves, deal with canisters already in circulation or those dumped in public places.

“Fewer young people”: Minister and advocate welcome the change

Minister for Health Ryan Park said the change would hopefully mean fewer young people suffer the harms of nitrous oxide misuse.

“These new regulations find the right balance between restricting access to this harmful party drug, while ensuring it is still available for legitimate uses,” he said.

“This isn’t just about cracking down on the sale or supply of the product. We also want to educate the public, including young people and their families about the serious risks associated with nitrous oxide misuse.”

The Minister thanked advocate Sam Bramman, who campaigned for the reforms after his own experience.

“At 19, nangs put me into psychosis and I ended up spending two months in a psychiatric ward. Today’s laws mean fewer young people in NSW will go down that path,” Mr Bramman said.

Mr Bramman ran 300km from Sydney to Parliament House to raise awareness. He said NSW was a strong start, but called for consistent national rules on nang sales and delivery.

The health risks

According to NSW Health, nitrous oxide misuse has been linked to severe vitamin B12 deficiency, permanent neurological injury and serious mental health effects. Acute and chronic use can also cause severe frostbite, lung injuries, heart abnormalities, asphyxiation and injuries from falls.

What In the Cove Found

In the Cove has been following the issue since March 2026, when the Stringybark Creek Residents Association and local Scouts collected 26 discarded nitrous oxide canisters, including 20 large 3.3L cylinders, under the Epping Road bridge at Batten Reserve on Clean Up Australia Day.

Our investigation found that the canisters were being sold by 24/7 delivery services, several of which had no registered business name. At the time, NSW had none of the restrictions already in place in South Australia and Western Australia.

In March, ITC asked Minister Park what the Government was doing, following its 2024 promise to act. We were told the Government was working on legislation. The new laws were announced on 3 July. Read our July report.

The new rules ban same-day delivery and the retail sale of canisters over 10g, which should cut off the overnight supply of large cylinders. Today’s find at Mindarie Park shows why residents will be watching to see how well they are enforced.

Found canisters? What to do

• Don’t handle them, particularly large cylinders, which may still be pressurised. Keep children and pets away.
• Report dumped canisters in parks and reserves to Lane Cove Council so they can be safely removed.
• Report suspicious activity to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. In an emergency, call 000.
• Tell us: Send photos and locations to the ITC WhatsApp tip line on 0470 490 417 (text only).

Need help?

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s nitrous oxide use, contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS NSW) on 1800 250 015, 24 hours, for confidential information, support and referral.

Health information and harm reduction advice is available at yourroom.health.nsw.gov.au.

If someone has numbness, difficulty walking, confusion or loses consciousness after using nitrous oxide, seek urgent medical help or call 000.