Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Ministry of Health issued a warning Friday (30/1/2026) against the recreational misuse of laughing gas nitrous oxide (N2O) following the death of influencer Lula Lahfah. 

Investigations at the 26-year-old’s South Jakarta apartment uncovered "whip pink" canisters, the tanks typically used in food production, alongside various medications. While N2O serves industrial purposes, its medical application is strictly regulated as a high-risk anesthetic.

"We urge the public not to abuse medical-grade N2O outside of professional healthcare settings," said El Iqbal, a director at the Ministry of Health, as cited by antaranews.com

Medical N2O is legally restricted to hospitals for surgical anesthesia and sedation under the supervision of licensed specialists. Misuse can lead to severe neurological damage or fatal respiratory failure. 

Although police found pink canisters and bloodstains at the scene, the criminal investigation was closed after the family declined an autopsy. Authorities emphasized that while N2O is used in catering and automotive industries, inhaling the gas for euphoric effects poses a lethal risk to the public.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)