Spanish prosecutors have raised serious concerns about the growing problem of laughing gas health risks. Ibiza has become a focal point for street sales, making the substance cheap, accessible, and particularly attractive to young people.

Concern From Prosecutors

The State Prosecutor’s annual report highlights rising consumption of cannabis and nitrous oxide among children as young as nine and ten. These trends pose a significant public health threat. Officials stress that inhaling nitrous oxide is wrongly considered harmless, largely because it is not officially listed as a controlled drug under international conventions. In reality, its recreational use carries major risks.

Health Risks Of Laughing Gas

Nitrous oxide inhalation can damage the respiratory, neurological, and blood systems. In extreme cases, it can cause death. Despite being sold for only three to five euros per balloon, the substance should only be handled by medical professionals in controlled settings. The issue of laughing gas health risks has therefore moved to the centre of public health debates.

Police And Judicial Actions

In Ibiza alone, prosecutors opened hundreds of urgent and preliminary proceedings in 2024 linked to nitrous oxide sales. Street sellers target tourists and teenagers during the summer season. Police operations in other Spanish regions confirm the scale of the problem. In Malaga, young men were arrested while preparing to sell balloons at 30 euros each. In Reus, authorities seized nearly a ton of nitrous oxide valued at half a million euros. Large-scale trafficking networks were also dismantled on the Costa del Sol, where profits reached hundreds of thousands of euros.

Profits And Criminal Networks

The profit margins are huge. A single 68-euro cylinder of nitrous oxide can generate more than 1,000 euros when sold in balloons. This lucrative trade makes laughing gas a growing target for organised criminal groups, who see it as low-risk compared to traditional narcotics.

The prosecutor’s report and recent police operations send a clear warning: laughing gas health risks are real and growing. Cheap, accessible, and dangerous, nitrous oxide threatens the wellbeing of young people in Ibiza and beyond. Authorities continue to act, but prevention and awareness campaigns remain vital to protect public health.