Nitrous oxide Portugal seizures have soared to record highs in early 2025, according to the latest data revealed by the national authorities. This psychoactive substance has seen a startling rise in illegal usage, with law enforcement confiscating nearly seven times more canisters this year compared to last. The changes indicate a worrying trend in recreational substance use, especially among young people.

Why Are Nitrous Oxide Portugal Seizures Skyrocketing?

Provisional figures from Portugal’s National Guard (GNR) show that, as of 4 March 2025, police forces seized 1,546 nitrous oxide canisters across the country, marking an impressive 650% increase compared to the entire previous year. This kind of escalation has focused attention on the nation’s ability to manage and discourage the misuse of nitrous oxide.

Interestingly, the GNR points out that these seizures are not occurring everywhere in the country. The trend is largely centred in the northern district of Porto and the urban hubs of Lisbon, Faro, and Setúbal. While laughing gas Portugal consumption is not yet considered a nationwide phenomenon, the sharp rise in these areas signals a shift in recreational habits.

What Is Laughing Gas Portugal and Why Is It Used?

Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is colourless, odourless, and often associated with quick bursts of euphoria and feelings of relaxation. While it has approved uses in medical and industrial settings, inhaling it for recreational highs poses major health risks. People usually consume the gas at parties or festivals, typically by inhaling it from a balloon or a repurposed ‘whipped cream’ cartridge.

This rise in use has parallels with broader European trends. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction has sounded the alarm on increasing recreational use among young people across the continent, including in Portugal. The agency links nitrous oxide to incidents of poisoning, burns, lung damage, and even neurological injury after prolonged use.

Tracking the Numbers: Key Facts on Seizures

The surge in nitrous oxide Portugal seizures is not an isolated event. The pattern has been building for several years:

• 2022: Police seized 162 canisters, along with 42 smaller capsules.
• 2023: Seizures jumped slightly to 175 canisters.
• 2024: Numbers continued to creep up to 207 canisters.
• 2025 (as of March): A total of 1,546 canisters have already been confiscated.

The Public Security Police (PSP) have been tracking laughing gas Portugal since 2021, issuing repeated warnings and stepping up their monitoring. Their own seizure numbers echo the GNR’s trends, with 173 confiscations in 2022, 69 in 2023, and 152 in 2024.

Health Effects and Growing Public Concern

Public health authorities caution that recreational laughing gas use is far from harmless. Long-term harm can overshadow the short-lived euphoria. Regular use can seriously weaken the immune system, trigger neurological damage, and cause memory problems.

Since 2020, the Portuguese Poisons Information Centre (CIAV) has logged 21 nitrous oxide poisoning cases, with young men aged 20 to 29 making up most of the affected individuals. Although the numbers remain relatively low compared to other substances, public health officials are growing increasingly vigilant as they register more cases each month.

How Is Nitrous Oxide Portugal Available on the Market?

While nitrous oxide has legitimate uses in hospitals and industry—including food production and car mechanics—it is not legal for direct human consumption outside medical settings. Still, the GNR has noted that because it is easy to purchase small quantities online, enforcement is particularly challenging. Many young people are buying canisters marketed for kitchen use and repurposing them for recreational inhalation.

Authorities are still studying the size and true scale of this market in Portugal. However, they emphasize that easy access through online platforms increases the likelihood of misuse, especially among tech-savvy young adults.

Source: dbrecoveryresources