Rise in Nitrous Oxide Intoxications Reported Through Emergency Calls

In recent times, the European Union Drugs Agency has issued a warning about the potential risks associated with nitrous oxide consumption. This popular party drug among teenagers and young adults has been causing concern across Germany, with an increase in reported cases of poisoning.

According to toxicologist Dagmar Prasa, three adolescents aged 14 to 17, and in one case, a schoolchild aged 6 to 13, have been affected. The Poison Information Centre North reported 34 consultations on this topic, a significant increase from the previous year's 19. Similarly, the Poison Information Centre responsible for Baden-Württemberg reported 17 cases in 2024, up from 6 in 2023.

The Poison hotline responsible for Bavaria recorded 12 inquiries in 2024 and 5 since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the responsible organization for the regions of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein, where cases of nitrous oxide poisonings have strongly increased, remains unidentified. The poison hotline for the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia reported 9 cases in 2024 and 8 since the beginning of the year.

The number of inquiries regarding nitrous oxide poisoning nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024 in Germany. This trend is also evident in other European countries, with studies in the UK and the Netherlands showing a significant prevalence of nitrous oxide consumption among certain age groups. For instance, a study from the Netherlands in 2020 revealed that more than one in ten 18 to 24-year-olds had taken nitrous oxide in the past 12 months.

The risks associated with nitrous oxide consumption are high. They range from dizziness and fainting to hallucinations and permanent damage to the nervous system. In some cases, permanent damage such as paralysis of the arm and leg muscles has been reported due to nitrous oxide poisoning. A tragic incident in Frankfurt involved a 23-year-old who, under the influence of nitrous oxide, crashed into a group of e-scooter riders, resulting in two deaths.

To combat this issue, toxicologist Steindl advocates a bundle of measures, including prohibiting advertising and launching awareness campaigns. Online trade of nitrous oxide should be banned, and the German government has already introduced a bill to prohibit the acquisition and possession of nitrous oxide for minors.

In addition, there is already a campaign in Hamburg warning about the dangers of improperly disposed gas cylinders causing explosions in waste incineration plants. Some incidents involving nitrous oxide while driving in the Netherlands increased by 80 percent between 2019 and 2021, highlighting the need for stricter regulations.

Primarily, young adults have been affected, according to toxicologist Katrin Romanek. It is crucial to educate this demographic about the dangers of nitrous oxide and promote safe practices to prevent further incidents.