An employee holds a bag of balloons next to three cans of laughing gas and a mouthpiece (white) at the counter of a kiosk. Credit: Marcus Brandt/dpa
- Poisonings from the legal drug nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, are increasingly occupying the nationwide emergency services in Germany.
The number of inquiries regarding nitrous oxide poisonings has almost doubled from 2023 to 2024, David Steindl, head of the poison emergency service at the Charité Hospital in Berlin, told dpa. The number for the region of Berlin and Brandenburg rose from 35 to 66 inquiries over that time, he said.
At the Poison Information Centre (VIZ) for the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg, there were six inquiries about nitrous oxide in 2023 and already 17 in 2024.
The Poison Information Centre for the north of Germany (GIZ-Nord) reported 34 consultations on this topic, up from 19 the previous year. In some cases, there was permanent damage such as paralysis of the arm and leg muscles, the GIZ-Nord said.
The GIZ-Nord is responsible for the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.
Permanent damage to the nervous system possible
The federal government has initiated a draft law to prohibit the purchase and possession of nitrous oxide for minors.
Nitrous oxide is particularly popular as a party drug among teenagers and young adults. It can be bought in cartridges and inhaled through balloons.
It has an euphoric effect, but consumption is associated with high risks. These range from dizziness and fainting to hallucinations and permanent damage to the nervous system.
Toxicologist Steindl is calling for a package of measures. “A mere ban is too short-sighted in my view,” said the doctor.
He added that advertising must also be curbed and awareness campaigns launched to inform teenagers and young adults about the significant consequential damages.
In Hamburg, there is already a campaign – but it was initiated by the city cleaning service and warns that improperly disposed gas bottles can cause explosions in waste incineration plants.
Online trade to be banned
There is little data on how widespread the consumption of nitrous oxide is. The colourful cartridges are offered, for example, in tobacco shops.
The planned law, which is expected to come into force this year, aims to ban online trade and purchases from vending machines.
In the UK, possession of nitrous oxide has been illegal since the end of 2023, and the Netherlands and Denmark also have strict regulations.
Studies are available for these countries on how many people consume the drug. According to a study from the Netherlands, more than one in 10 18 to 24-year-olds reported having used nitrous oxide in the past 12 months in 2020.
Fatal accident in Frankfurt under influence of nitrous oxide
In addition to acute poisonings, there is a risk of accidents, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) explains.
In the Netherlands, the number of incidents involving nitrous oxide while driving increased by 80% between 2019 and 2021, from 2,652 to 4,860 incidents.
Some are related to driving cars while intoxicated, others to filling balloons while driving.
In Frankfurt, a 23-year-old reportedly crashed into a group of e-scooter riders under the influence of nitrous oxide in early July – two young men died.
The poison emergency service in Munich, responsible for the state of Bavaria, recorded six inquiries in 2023 and 12 in 2024. Since January, there have been five inquiries.
Mainly young adults are affected, said toxicologist Katrin Romanek.
In teenagers who come to the hospital with neurological problems, there is often suspicion of a connection with nitrous oxide abuse.
“Unfortunately, proof is not possible, which makes evidence difficult,” said Romanek.
Even schoolchild affected by poisoning
The emergency service for the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia also saw an increase in inquiries, although it remained at a comparatively low level.
There were four cases in 2023, nine in 2024, and eight cases since the beginning of the year.
Three teenagers aged 14 to 17 and, in one case, a schoolchild aged 6-13 were affected, said toxicologist Dagmar Prasa, head of the Joint Poison Information Centre (GIZ) based in the city of Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia.
Dpa
gez65k