During a plenary session of the European Parliament, a debate was held on banning the general sale of nitrous oxide. Marlena Maląg, a Law and Justice MEP, spoke during the discussion, drawing attention to the growing problem of recreational use, particularly among young people, and to the serious health consequences associated with this phenomenon.
The MEP emphasized that addictions often begin in a seemingly innocent way. “Addictions rarely begin dramatically. Most often, they start innocently—out of curiosity, at a single party, with a balloon passed from hand to hand. That’s how the story of many young people’s experience with nitrous oxide begins,” she said.
As she noted, the belief that this is merely a harmless form of fun often leads to serious consequences.
“And then comes the harsh reality: damage to the nervous system, problems with walking and balance, poisoning, traffic accidents, and even death,” she emphasized.
Marlena Maląg drew attention to data indicating a rapid increase in recreational nitrous oxide use in many European Union countries. As she noted, the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction has sounded the alarm about the growing scale of this phenomenon.
The MEP also cited examples from member states. In France, more than half of the reported cases of nitrous oxide-related poisoning involved serious neurological problems. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, dozens of young people were treated for spinal cord injuries in just two years, and the number of traffic accidents linked to the use of this gas rose by 80 percent.
“These are thousands of real-life stories of young people who, just moments earlier, were convinced that it was just a bit of fun,” she noted.
The MEP emphasized that nitrous oxide has important medical applications but should not be readily available for recreational use.
“Everything in life has its place. Nitrous oxide does too—but in medicine, in anesthesiology. There, it relieves pain and saves lives. It must not end up on the streets or in the hands of teenagers,” she said.
According to Marlena Maląg, banning the sale of nitrous oxide to private individuals is a reasonable and proportionate solution that preserves access to it in medicine and industry while limiting abuse.
“Freedom also means responsibility. It is our duty to protect the health and lives of the younger generation of Europeans,” the MEP concluded.
