Nitrous oxide cases rise at Tallaght Hospital

Twenty-six people presented to Tallaght University Hospital with complications from nitrous oxide misuse in the first nine months of this year, compared with three during 2020, according to figures cited by Dublin Mid-West TD Mark Ward.

The Sinn Féin deputy said the figures, supplied to him by the HSE, highlighted the need for urgent action to regulate sales of the substance.

He called on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to support his proposed legislation, accusing the Government of delaying measures intended to tackle misuse.

“The HSE have released startling figures to me on the number of people presenting to Tallaght University Hospital for nitrous oxide misuse,” Deputy Ward said.

“In 2020 only 3 people presented with complications from nitrous misuse. This has risen to 26 for the first 9 months of this year.”

The hospital figures compare the whole of 2020 with January to September 2026.

Deputy Ward also pointed to separate figures which he said showed that discharges from acute hospitals for poisoning from inhaled anaesthetics increased from four in 2021 to 40 in 2025.

Nitrous oxide is an inhaled anaesthetic, although the discharge figures cited cover the broader category rather than identifying nitrous oxide alone.

Further figures outlined by the deputy showed that the number presenting to addiction services for problematic nitrous oxide use rose from 30 in 2022 to 69 in 2025, an increase of 130%.

He said there were 209 presentations involving problematic nitrous oxide use over that period, with 57% involving people under 18.

“I have concerns that similar increases are being seen right across the state,” he said.

Deputy Ward introduced the Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill 2025 with fellow Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe last year.

The proposed legislation would regulate sales through licensing and registration arrangements, restrict sales to exempt purchasers and prohibit sales to under-18s.

Deputy Ward said the Government had voted to delay the bill for nine months and called for constructive engagement when that period ends this month.

“I have been raising this as an issue for all of these years and we have seen no action from government, we have often seen little comment from them at all,” he said.

“The rises in hospital admissions can be tackled, with the proper legislation. Everything must be done to improve this situation.”