The Irish government is facing calls to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide after the European Union classified the substance as toxic to human reproduction and the nervous system.
Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward has drafted legislation to ban public sales of the substance, commonly known as “laughing gas,” which has become increasingly popular among young people for recreational highs. The colourless gas is sold in canisters that often become street litter after use.
Ward’s concerns stem from the substance’s devastating health impacts, including multiple deaths across Europe among teenagers and young adults. In Ireland, 15-year-old Alex Ryan from Tallaght died in 2020 in connection with nitrous oxide use.
“Studies have shown harm to reproduction that medical and dental staff faced when exposed to small amounts of the gas in their work,” Ward explained. “My fear is that people using nitrous oxide recreationally are taking much more concentrated doses.”
The substance presents regulatory challenges as it has legitimate medical uses for sedation and pain relief, and commercial applications in food preparation for whipped cream production.
While nitrous oxide became a controlled drug in the UK in 2023, Ireland has yet to classify it under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Ward’s bill, currently before the Dáil, proposes age restrictions for under-18s and stricter controls on public sales.
Recent investigations found large canisters readily available on Irish online marketplaces, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory action.