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Taking laughing gas 600 times a week left me in a wheelchair

A woman left paralysed and in a wheelchair after taking 600 cannisters of laughing gas a week has welcomed it being made illegal next month.

22 October 2023 · 04:34 UTC

Kerry-Anne Donaldson, 26, from Newham, London, became addicted to nitrous oxide (NOS) at 18, consuming 600 canisters per week. By 21, she was paralyzed and wheelchair-bound due to the drug's impact on her body, with numbness spreading to her hands.

The UK government is set to make NOS illegal from November 8 as part of efforts to combat anti-social behavior. While Kerry-Anne doubts the law will entirely eradicate the drug, she hopes it will raise prices and discourage excessive use.

She shared her physical and mental struggles caused by NOS use, including anemia and worsened asthma. Kerry-Anne emphasized the vital role her family plays in her life and expressed a desire to raise awareness and support others facing substance abuse issues. Her TikTok videos sharing her story have gone viral, inspiring her to help others in similar situations.