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Laughing Gas Hospital Hits: Is Ban Failing?
19 Sep
Summary
- Hospital admissions for laughing gas abuse near record highs.
- Long-term exposure can cause permanent spinal cord damage.
- Possession offences increased significantly despite the ban.
Hospital admissions in England for laughing gas abuse are nearing record highs, with 783 cases recorded in the year to March 2026. This figure represents a five-fold increase compared to earlier periods and is just shy of the record set in the year to March 2024. The drug, now a Class C substance, saw admissions dip after its ban in November 2023, but this fall has been reversed.
Medical professionals are highlighting the severe health risks associated with nitrous oxide abuse, including permanent spinal cord damage and neurological injury. Professor Frankie Swords of NHS England emphasized that recreational use is dangerous and can lead to life-altering complications. Experts also note an increase in severe frost-bite burns and that the current volumes consumed make the drug more dangerous.
