Huffing Nitrous Oxide on Khao San Road

You’ll be able to recognize the faces of those deprived of oxygen. Pale complexions, doubled over in laughter and with a balloon at their lips. I’ve been around whip-its for a decade now so it wasn’t a surprise to me, but to see so many drunk tourists inhaling nitrous oxide for a short high was off setting.

It’s probably because I never liked the high. I’ve tried it a handful of times and each one felt like being light headed but not quite drunk. It’s part euphoria, part hypoxia and I just figured if I’m going to get fucked up- why not stick with good ol’ lsd or a hash joint with tequila, and maybe a side of DMT.

Huffing nitrous oxide ain’t good for you either. It can cause central nervous system damage, liver and kidney damage, limb spasms, suffocation, heart failure and a whole other goody bag of unpleasant long/short term effects. Though these consequences are the result of consistent use, they shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially if your body isn’t in a strong state.

But enough of the parental PSA. If you wanna have some fun, head to Khao San Road. Besides the buckets of vodka and pop up “ping pong shows,” you’ll see people hanging inside open bars with balloons cradled up to their mouths, sucking on latex nipples.

It’s easy enough to get. Just spend an evening on the street and watch who has one and go into that bar and order it. About the price of a beer, you’ll spend a few months laughing while your world hollows into a narrow tunnel of vision. There’s even some vendors with an array of multicoloured balloons selling the laughing gas.

It is illegal, but cops are more interested in who is selling the substance. Which means those poor Thai elders selling the balloons could spend up to five years in prison and a $300 fine if caught. This has made the availability less widespread, but ask any tourist or English-speaking local on the street about it and you’ll find some in no time.

Personally, I’ve always wondered why people enjoyed giving up their humanly right to air, and willingly paid for it. But as a true hypocrite and occasional drug user, I participated in inhaling some chemicals for fun. It was at a bar after a decent amount of liquor and beer and I was unimpressed again. Just a weaker dissociative than cough syrup and I didn’t even get the giggles. In fact, it sobered me up and I downed a few shots after the four minute weirdness passed.

But drugs affect everyone differently so if you wanna have a huff at it, go ahead. Try not to be too intoxicated beforehand and make sure you’re around friends and preferably in a seated position; losing oxygen isn’t a natural bodily process.