‘Laughing Gas’ Deaths Soar 578% in Just Over a Decade
Once seen as harmless party fun, nitrous oxide is now linked to a sharp rise in U.S. fatalities, with experts warning of severe health risks, social media influence, and zero regulation.
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Deaths from nitrous oxide poisoning have surged 578% over the past 13 years, according to new research published in JAMA. The gas, known as “laughing gas” or “whippits”, is used in medical anesthesia but increasingly inhaled recreationally for a brief euphoric high.
Data from the CDC show deaths rose from 23 in 2010 to 156 in 2023, with the mortality rate climbing from 0.01 to 0.0622 per 100,000 people. The sharpest increases came after 2016, a trend researchers link to wider availability in smoke shops, gas stations, and online stores.
Experts warn nitrous oxide is cheap, unregulated, and often marketed in candy-like flavors such as bubblegum and mango. It is typically released from small canisters into balloons before inhalation, a method popular among teenagers and young people.
The gas can deprive the brain of oxygen, leading to dizziness, loss of consciousness, nerve damage, or paralysis. Heavy use may cause vitamin B12 deficiency, resulting in lasting neurological issues. Overdose symptoms include seizures, psychosis, rapid heartbeat, and breathing problems.
Health officials say the drug’s dangers are often overlooked or trivialized, with few sellers providing health warnings. Social media videos glamorizing use have fueled its spread, and some addiction specialists compare current marketing tactics to those once used by big tobacco.
The FDA issued an advisory earlier this year urging people not to inhale nitrous oxide recreationally. Public health experts are calling for stronger awareness campaigns, training for healthcare providers to identify abuse, and possible regulation to curb rising fatalities.