0
0
April 7, 2025
The recreational misuse of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is escalating across the United States, leading to a sharp increase in poisonings, hospitalizations, and a doubling of related deaths in recent years, health officials and researchers warn.
Once primarily associated with dental sedation and whipped cream dispensers, nitrous oxide is now at the center of a growing public health concern. Researchers from the University of Mississippi and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are highlighting the alarming trend. “This is a chemical that is commonly used as a sedative or anesthetic, but what we’re seeing is a rise in recreational use,” stated Andrew Yockey, assistant professor of public health at the University of Mississippi. “But what we’re also seeing is also a rise in hospitalizations, in poisonings and in deaths.”
The scale of misuse is significant. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 13 million Americans reported having misused nitrous oxide at some point. Compounding the concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates deaths linked to nitrous oxide poisoning surged by over 110% between 2019 and 2023.
While the absolute number of fatalities remains lower than those associated with other dangerous substances, the rapid rate of increase is raising red flags. “The preliminary findings of our study are that deaths have remained fairly small compared to other dangerous substances,” said Rachel Hoopsick, assistant professor of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “But what we’re seeing is that over the last couple of years, those rates have increased exponentially. At that continued rate, we could be looking at a much larger problem.”
A key factor driving the trend is the substance’s easy accessibility and lack of stringent regulation. Unlike controlled drugs, nitrous oxide canisters, often called “whippets,” can be readily purchased online or in local shops. Worryingly, many products appear deliberately marketed towards younger demographics, featuring bright packaging and appealing flavors like “blueberry mango” or “Bomb Pop.”
“Think back to big tobacco; they deliberately targeted young people with cartoons, fun flavors and flashy colors,” Hoopsick observed. “That is a parallel we’re seeing now with nitrous oxide.” Yockey added, questioning the marketed purpose: “I really doubt anyone is buying flavored nitrous oxide to make blueberry mango whipped cream… But I can have it delivered to my house in a couple of days.”
Despite the seemingly harmless “party drug” image, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns of severe health risks associated with repeated inhalation, including potential brain damage, frostbite from the cold gas, numbness, blood clots, and even paralysis. However, researchers note that sellers often downplay or omit these dangers. “Sellers of nitrous oxide rarely, if ever, provide health warnings,” Hoopsick said.
The issue is further amplified by social media, where videos depicting nitrous oxide inhalation are easily found, potentially normalizing and encouraging the behavior among teens and young adults. “We know that if you watch videos of someone else doing it, you’re more likely to try it,” Yockey cautioned.
Researchers stress the urgent need for better data collection and policy interventions. “Policy level interventions are what are lacking at the moment,” Hoopsick stated. “If we have some guardrails on who can sell this, who can buy it and how it’s marketed, maybe we can get ahead of the problem.”
As new brands continue to appear online with easy shipping options, experts warn that this dangerous trend requires immediate attention to prevent it from escalating further.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided in a source text dated April 6, 2025, authored by Rodielon Putol for Earth.com. The information includes quotes from researchers and data attributed to the FDA, CDC, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.(https://www.earth.com/news/laughing-gas-crisis-nitrous-oxide-misuse-and-abuse-is-rising-in-the-u-s/)
