The number of hospital admissions of patients with neurological conditions following the use of nitrous oxide has quadrupled over a four-year period, a new study has found.
Nitrous oxide (NO), also known as laughing gas or whippets, is used in healthcare for anaesthetic and analgesic reasons. Recreational abuse of inhaled NO has increased significantly in the last 10 years, particularly among younger age groups.
According to the study, led by medics in the acute medicine department of the Mater hospital in Dublin, and published in the Irish Medical Journal on Friday, “admissions to Irish hospitals with neurological consequences of inhaled NO misuse have greatly increased over the last four years, and this issue is predominantly affecting very young adults”.
Recreational NO abuse can cause harm to users, including freeze burns to lips, hands and throat. However, the drug can interfere with the body’s ability to process vitamin B12, which can lead to neurological conditions, such as subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord.
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There were a total of 63 discharges from Irish hospitals relating to neurological conditions following the use of NO between the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2024.
Quarterly presentations increased fourfold when comparing quarter one 2020 and quarter four 2023, the study found, “mirroring international concerns about rising recreational NO use and resultant harm”.
The report said the rising trend of NO use was over a very short time, showing a significant increase from the third quarter of 2022, peaking in quarter two 2023 when there were 11 admissions.
“This aligns with the clinical observation we had made regarding the increased prevalence of nitrous oxide use,” it said.
The report author said the apparent reduction in cases in late 2023 was “likely inaccurate” as there can be a “time lag between hospital discharge” and data collation.
The average age of admission was 19.68 years, according to the study. A higher number of men were hospitalised for this reason than women, standing at 71.4 per cent and 28.6 per cent respectively.
Some 47.6 per cent of patients held a medical card and most patients (87.3 per cent) were from the Dublin area. The average length of stay was 6.26 days, contributing to 394.5 total bed days.
A range of health and social care profession specialists were involved in patient care, with physiotherapy being the most frequently utilised service, followed by occupational therapy, medical social work, dietetics, pharmacy and psychology.
The report authors highlighted the disproportionate impact on young men and the lack of awareness of the risk of the drug on these individuals.
“A multi-targeted harm-reduction strategy is needed to reduce preventable harm and to lessen the burden on acute care services,” the report said.
