Doctors have given a warning to people who use nitrous oxide, particularly younger people, due to the fact it can cause spinal injuries and nerve damage.

Also known as laughing gas or balloons, nitrous oxide has becoming increasingly popular, especially among the 16-24 year old range.

The 2019/20 Crime Survey for England and Wales found that almost 9% of 16 to 24-year-olds said they had taken nitrous oxide in the previous year, up from 6.1% in 2012/13.

Due to this doctors have seen a steep rise in spinal injuries among young people due to use of the drug.

The Northern Echo: Laughing gas has seen an increased number of people end up in hospital with nerve damage/spinal injuries (PA)Laughing gas has seen an increased number of people end up in hospital with nerve damage/spinal injuries (PA) (Image: PA)

Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology and neuroepidemiology at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London, and consultant neurologist at Barts NHS Trust said he had been working with other neurologists to create guidance to make people aware of the dangers of using laughing gas.

He added: “We are seeing more patients than even a year or so ago, and often the cases are more severe.

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“We used to see people with tingling and numbness in their legs or difficulty walking but this year we’ve had several people who literally can’t walk at all when they come to hospital.”

Alongside this medical students at Queen Mary University have created the N20: Know The Risks campaign to try and highlight the dangers.

Fourth year medical student Devan Mair, who is leading the campaign, said: “We want to empower people with the knowledge of the risks of nitrous oxide to inform them if faced with the decision to take balloons.”