Lawmakers in Irleand are being urged to follow the Netherlands' example - and ban laughing gas.
Speaking in relation to the growing recreational use of 'nitrous oxide' among young people, Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins says it can have a very sinister side.
The Dublin Mid West deputy says it's now time we got ahead of the issues surrounding the gas: "The research from the European centre for drugs and drug addiction has found that one in four Irish people had used laughing gas.
"Over five per cent of young people between 18 and 25 actually just used it in the last number of months."
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the growing popularity of the substance stems from its availability, low price and ease of use.
As reported by RTÉ, it has become more popular as a relaxant in recent years, leaving the user feeling euphoric.
New @EMCDDA report 'Recreational use of nitrous oxide: a growing concern for Europe' has been released today and contains a series of case studies from different countries, including Ireland.
Download from: https://t.co/Z3b9Cuh0DM pic.twitter.com/eBBYTAPV7z
— HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) November 21, 2022
Deputy Higgins continued: "We know ten people were hospitalized because of the side effects last year.
"I just feel that it is too cheap and easily available and that we need to now legislate for it."
Nitrous oxide is the second most prevalent drug among young adults in the United Kingdom between the age of 16 to 24.
While the Netherlands has witnessed 144 cases of nitrous oxide poisoning in 2020 and also reported a sharp rise in car accidents caused by driving while intoxicated or trying to fill balloons.
