The most used drug among people aged 16-24 can cause loss of feeling in hands and feet and even cause lungs to collapse.
Nitrous oxide balloons have become increasingly popular in recent years, with teenagers and young people filling rubber balloons with the gas from a cannister and then inhaling. Due to the gas not currently being illegal to possess, there may be misconceptions about the dangers that come with taking the drug.
The "legal high" has become heavily linked with party culture among young people in the UK, and can lead to devastating consequences if abused. One student at a Liverpool university told the ECHO about their experiences with the drug.
READ MORE: Expert in search for Nicola Bulley thinks phone was left as a 'decoy'
The final year student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's literally everywhere, you can't go to a party without seeing groups of people gathered around the cannisters inhaling balloon after balloon. I think it's a lot more prevalent in younger people and especially students.
"It's like it turns them into zombies and all they care about is getting another balloon. It's really sad to see because it completely ruins any party atmosphere and I've seen people in really bad states from taking it."
The Times newspaper reported that under new proposals, drug misuse laws would be updated to allow people found with nitrous oxide gas in public to be prosecuted. The paper said that under the changes, only those with a "legitimate reason" would be exempt.
Examples given include chefs, who use it for whipped cream or freezing and chilling food. The substance can also be used as pain relief during dental treatment or childbirth.
Dr Gareth Nye, Programme Lead for Medical Science at University of Chester stressed the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide. He said: "Nitrous oxide is one of the most commonly used drugs among young people particularly between 16 and 24 years within England based on government data.
"The side effects of the gas varying depending on usage, dosage and source but the real dangers lie in regular users.
"Regular users of nitrous gas will experience dizziness, dissociation, disorientation, loss of balance, impaired memory and cognition, and weakness in the legs. When combined with other drugs or alcohol, users are much more likely to have serious injuries via falls and a large number of accidental asphyxiations have occurred through passing out.
"Heavy regular use is linked to a deficiency in the function of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is crucial in the formation of parts of our nerves as well as the growth of red blood cells. A loss of function here will quickly lead to loss of feeling and use of peripheral tissues like fingers and toes as well as anaemia. Combined together, regular users will experience a loss of nerve function as far as the spinal cord and a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity leading to tissue destruction.
"Anyone who is pregnant or thinks they are pregnant should avoid use completely as the gas is damaging to the growing baby leading to birth defects.
"The risks of death or severe injury are exponentially higher when taken in straight from the canister rather than using other products like balloons. Too much of the gas in one go can lead to loss of consciousness or suffocation.
"There is also the increased chance of users moving to other gases such as the fuel gases like butane and aerosols which have much more dangerous side effects."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Second man killed in M57 crash will 'never be forgotten'
Our reporter visited the scene where Nicola Bulley went missing and found a village in shock
Every word judge said to lying mum Janette Mercer
New Lidl hair styling range rivalling Dyson Supersonic for less than £20