Hospital admissions related to nitrous oxide abuse in England have risen to near-record levels, according to recent NHS data, despite the substance being outlawed as a Class C drug in November 2023. Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 783 hospital admissions where doctors identified nitrous oxide or similar solvent abuse as a contributing factor. This marks a significant increase from the 584 cases recorded in the previous year and approaches the peak of 786 admissions seen in the year to March 2024.
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or "hippy crack," has gained popularity as a recreational drug despite health risks. The rising admissions follow a temporary dip immediately after the ban was introduced, suggesting that criminalisation has not curbed usage or related harms.
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS England’s national medical director, warned of the serious health consequences of nitrous oxide misuse. He highlighted the risk of permanent spinal cord injury and neurological damage that can leave users unable to walk. “Recreational use of laughing gas is no laughing matter,” he said, urging users to reconsider the risks.
Former government chief drugs adviser Professor David Nutt expressed concerns that the ban may have exacerbated harm by shifting consumption from small cartridges known as “whippits” to larger gas canisters, which deliver higher and more toxic doses. This trend, he noted, has led to an increase in severe frostbite injuries, now second only to lithium battery fires in burn unit admissions.
Consultant neurologist Dr. David Nicholl echoed these warnings, explaining that excessive nitrous oxide use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, which is essential for nerve function. He likened the effect to stripping insulation from electrical wires, disrupting nerve signal transmission and damaging the spinal cord. Dr. Nicholl stressed the need for engagement with users to provide support and encourage medical intervention.
The NHS figures encompass admissions diagnosed with mental and behavioural disorders related to volatile solvent use, predominantly linked to nitrous oxide. Prior to 2022, such diagnoses appeared in fewer than 200 hospital admissions annually. The latest data remains provisional and may increase as further hospital reports are submitted, potentially surpassing the previous record.
Separately, Home Office statistics indicate a 76% rise in nitrous oxide possession offences recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to March 2026, with 5,780 cases documented. However, the majority—about 70%—of these incidents were resolved informally without charges or court proceedings. Only 12% of resolved cases resulted in formal charges.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Police and Border Force, reported seizing over 4.19 million doses of nitrous oxide in the year ending March 2025, the highest total on record. The ongoing increase in both hospital admissions and possession offences suggests that nitrous oxide abuse continues to pose a significant public health challenge despite legislative efforts to restrict its availability.
In a recent high-profile case, former England footballer Raheem Sterling was banned from driving after being found with gas canisters in his vehicle. He admitted to struggling with nitrous oxide misuse, underscoring the substance’s reach across different segments of society.