An Irish medical expert has warned of a sharp and “alarming” increase in young people suffering spinal cord damageafter abusing nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The warning follows a new study published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology. The research was led by Seamus Looby, a consultant neuroradiologist at Beaumont Hospital.
Nitrous oxide is legally sold in Ireland for catering and industrial use. However, youth workers and community groups have reported growing misuse among teenagers and young adults, who inhale the gas using balloons or canisters, often believing it to be harmless.
The study found no recorded cases of nitrous oxide–related spinal cord damage between 2012 and 2020 at Beaumont Hospital. In contrast, 14 cases were diagnosed between 2021 and the end of 2024, indicating a significant spike since the Covid-19 pandemic. The median age of patients was just 20.
While most patients showed some improvement after treatment, none made a full recovery, and all were left with lasting neurological damage.
The injury occurs when nitrous oxide interferes with the body’s ability to process vitamin B12, leading to a serious condition known as subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SACD). Symptoms include numbness in the hands and feet, difficulty walking, and problems with balance and coordination.
Professor Looby said many teenagers see laughing gas as “a bit of harmless fun”, but stressed that the medical evidence tells a very different story. He hopes the findings will lead to greater awareness of the permanent and damaging effectsof nitrous oxide abuse.
The study is the second-largest European case series examining spinal cord injury caused by nitrous oxide.