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By Maria Azzurra Volpe
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Deaths in the US from the inhalation of nitrous oxide—or "laughing gas"—have surged by more than 500 percent since 2010.
This is the warning of a study by researchers from the University of Mississippi and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who analyzed data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also referred to as "whippets", nitrous oxide is a legal substance that is notably used medically and in food preparation. Its recreational use, however, has been on the rise.
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"This is not local to one area; it's everywhere," said paper author and Mississippi public health researcher professor Andrew Yockey in a statement.
"It absolutely deserves national surveillance. The numbers are still small right now, but they're growing and they're growing fast. How long do we have to wait before we consider this a problem?"
Paper co-author and Illinois epidemiologist professor Rachel Hoopsick added that it is concerning how accessible nitrous oxide is—especially since 2020, when nitrous oxide products began appearing in gas stations, online, and at other sales points.
"It's legal, easy to buy and often viewed as harmless. But frequent or high-volume use can lead to serious neurological damage, psychiatric symptoms or even death", she said.
"We're particularly worried about young people experimenting without understanding the risks. The rise in harm calls for not only prevention, but also stronger harm-reduction strategies."
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The duo's analysis revealed that nitrous oxide deaths have increased by 578 percent—from 23 in 2010 to 156 in 2023.
The study began early in 2025, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide, listing over 15 products. However, dozens of canisters are still on the market.
"We started researching nitrous oxide misuse after seeing headlines about young people dying from what many believed was a harmless substance," Hoopsick said.
"Around the same time, we were both hearing anecdotal reports of nitrous oxide use among students on our respective campuses. These weren't just isolated incidents; they pointed to a larger, overlooked public health issue."
Most of the common users of this substance are eighth grade children, typically aged 13–14, probably because it's so easily accessible, the team note.
"There is no age limit, and this is available online and in gas stations across the country," Yockey said. "So, these products become an easy way to get high, and the companies know that. These flavored nozzles—bubblegum, mango—tell me these aren't being marketed to kids?"
When inhaled, nitrous oxide can cause blood clots, frostbite, asphyxiation, heart palpitations, paralysis, hallucinations and, in some cases, even death. Prolonged use can also lead to spinal cord and brain damage.
In light of these public health implications, the researchers are demanding increased monitoring and prevention. In the United Kingdom, nitrous oxide was banned in 2023, and many other European countries have introduced new regulations in recent years.
France, Ireland, and Denmark have prohibited the sale of nitrous oxide to people younger than 18 years of age. Lithuania has banned nitrous oxide except for medical and industrial purposes. Denmark has prohibited the possession of nitrous oxide in public places and made sale illegal for the purpose of intoxication.
"Public awareness is far behind where it needs to be," Hoopsick said. "Most people—including parents, educators and even some health care providers—don't realize how common nitrous oxide use has become or how dangerous it can be.
"I want them to know that legal doesn't mean safe and that early, nonjudgmental conversations can make a real difference."
Do you have a health story to share with Newsweek? Do you have a question about nitrous oxide? Let us know via health@newsweek.com.
Reference
Yockey, R. A., & Hoopsick, R. A. (2025). US Nitrous Oxide Mortality. JAMA Network Open, 8(7). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.22164
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