Ireland is recording a sharp rise in treatment for nitrous oxide misuse, with new HSE figures showing a 130% increase since national reporting began. More than half of all recorded cases between 2022 and 2025 involved people under the age of 18, prompting renewed concern about permanent nerve and spinal cord damage.
Key facts from the latest Ireland News
- Recorded cases rose from 30 in 2022 to 69 in 2025.
- There were 209 cases classified as problematic nitrous oxide use between 2022 and 2025.
- Of those cases, 119 people—57%—were under 18.
- In 2025, 34 cases involved people aged 17 or younger, while 28 involved people aged 18 to 24.
- The figures cover cases where nitrous oxide was identified as either a main or additional problem drug.
Nitrous oxide misuse becomes a growing public health concern
Nitrous oxide, often called “laughing gas”, is commonly released into balloons before being inhaled. The resulting high is brief, but repeated or heavy use can carry serious health risks. Medical concerns include neurological injury, nerve damage and problems affecting the spinal cord.
The figures were provided by the HSE through the National Drug Treatment Reporting System after a parliamentary question from Mark Ward, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid West. Ward, who works as a behavioural therapist with people experiencing addiction and dual-diagnosis issues, has raised concerns about nitrous oxide misuse since 2020.
He said discarded cartridges had become increasingly visible in public spaces, including parks and roadside areas. The waste includes both small silver cartridges and larger industrial-sized canisters.
Why the age profile is causing concern
The age breakdown is a central feature of the latest Irish News. In 2025, almost half of the recorded cases involved children aged 17 or younger. Across the four-year period, under-18s accounted for 57% of all reported cases.
These figures do not represent every person who has used the substance, nor do they measure all emergency department attendances. Instead, they cover people who presented for treatment and whose problematic use was recorded through the national reporting system.
What are the health risks?
Short-term effects can include dizziness, impaired coordination, confusion and loss of consciousness. The gas can also reduce the body’s ability to use vitamin B12, an essential nutrient involved in healthy nerves and blood cells. Severe or prolonged misuse may contribute to neurological problems, including weakness, numbness, difficulty walking and spinal cord injury.
Health risks can be particularly serious when people inhale directly from cartridges, use large quantities or combine nitrous oxide with alcohol or other drugs. The short duration of the high can also encourage repeated inhalation in a single session.
Anyone experiencing numbness, tingling, weakness, balance problems, difficulty walking or changes in sensation after using nitrous oxide should seek urgent medical advice. A person who is unconscious, having difficulty breathing or suffering a serious injury requires emergency help.
Why the available data may not show the full picture
Ward said he had asked about presentations to emergency departments connected with nitrous oxide-related injuries. However, that specific figure is not currently recorded in the data released to him.
That distinction matters. Treatment figures provide an important indicator of harm, but they do not capture all hospital attendances, ambulance call-outs, GP consultations or people who never seek medical care. The true level of harm may therefore be difficult to establish from treatment data alone.
What happens next for Ireland’s response?
The latest figures add to pressure for stronger prevention, early intervention and consistent recording of nitrous oxide-related harm. A more complete national picture would require health services to identify and record emergency presentations as well as formal addiction treatment cases.
For families, schools and youth services, the data highlights the need for clear information about the risks. Prevention messages should explain that the gas is not harmless simply because its effects are short-lived or because cartridges may be sold for legitimate purposes such as culinary use.
Useful responses may include:
- Clearer education for children and parents about neurological risks.
- Training for schools, youth workers and frontline health professionals.
- Better monitoring of emergency department presentations.
- Early access to addiction and mental health supports.
- Co-ordinated action to address discarded canisters in public places.
Frequently asked questions
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a gas used medically and in some commercial applications. When inhaled recreationally, it is often known as laughing gas.
How many cases were recorded in Ireland in 2025?
The HSE recorded 69 cases of problematic nitrous oxide use in 2025, compared with 30 cases in 2022.
Are children particularly affected?
Children and teenagers make up a significant proportion of recorded cases. Of the 209 cases reported between 2022 and 2025, 119 involved people under 18.
Can nitrous oxide cause permanent damage?
Yes. Repeated or heavy misuse has been linked to serious neurological injury, including permanent nerve and spinal cord damage.
What should someone do after using it?
Anyone with weakness, numbness, balance problems or difficulty walking should contact a healthcare professional urgently. Severe symptoms or loss of consciousness require emergency services.
Conclusion
The rise in nitrous oxide treatment cases is an important public health warning, particularly because young people account for most recorded cases. This Breaking News Ireland development also exposes a gap in national monitoring: treatment data is available, but the wider number of emergency presentations remains unclear. Families and professionals should treat neurological symptoms seriously, while policymakers face growing pressure to improve prevention, reporting and access to support.
