Death Toll from Popular School Drug Surges Over 500%

Fatalities in the U.S. caused by breathing in nitrous oxide—commonly known as "laughing gas"—have increased by over 500% since 2010.

Here is a revised version of your sentence: "This serves as a caution highlighted by a research project conducted by scholars from the University of Mississippi along with those from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which examined information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Known as "whippets," nitrous oxide is a legally available compound commonly utilized for medical purposes and in culinary applications. Nevertheless, its non-medical usage has seen an increase recently.

"It isn't confined to just one region; it's found all over," stated the study's author and University of Mississippi public health research professor Andrew Yockey in a statement.

It definitely warrants nationwide monitoring. The figures remain low at present, yet they are increasing rapidly. For how much longer must we delay recognizing this as an issue?

A paper co-author and professor of epidemiology at Illinois, Rachel Hoopsick, noted that it is alarming how easily nitrous oxide can be obtained — particularly since 2020, when items containing nitrous oxide started showing up at gas stations, online, and through various retail outlets.

"It's lawful, simple to obtain, and frequently considered safe. However, regular or heavy usage may result in significant brain injury, mental health issues, or possibly death," she stated.

we are especially concerned about teenagers trying things without realizing the dangers involved. the increase in negative outcomes requires more than just stopping them from engaging; it also demands better methods to reduce damage.

The pair's research showed that fatalities linked to nitrous oxide rose by 578 percent—from 23 cases in 2010 to 156 in 2023.

The research started at the beginning of 2025, when the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) issued a caution regarding the risks associated with breathing in nitrous oxide, citing more than 15 products. Nevertheless, many cans remain available for sale.

"After coming across news reports of teenagers passing away due to what was widely considered an innocuous gas, we began investigating the abuse of nitrous oxide," Hoopsick stated.

At roughly the same time, each of us was receiving informal accounts about the use of nitrous oxide among students at our different universities. These weren’t one-off cases; they suggested a broader, underappreciated public health concern.

Many regular users of this drug are eighth-grade students, usually between the ages of 13 and 14, likely due to its easy availability, according to the researchers.

There is no minimum age requirement, and it can be found both online and at gas stations throughout the nation," Yockey stated. "Therefore, these items offer a simple method to achieve intoxication, and the companies are aware of this. The scented dispensers—like bubblegum and mango—are clearly not intended for children, right?

Inhaling nitrous oxide may result in conditions such as blood clot formation, freezing injuries, suffocation, irregular heartbeat, loss of muscle control, visual distortions, and, in certain instances, fatalities. Extended exposure might additionally contribute to harm affecting the spinal column and central nervous system.

Considering these public health concerns, scientists are calling for enhanced surveillance and preventive measures. In the United Kingdom, nitrous oxide was prohibited in 2023, with numerous other European nations implementing updated rules in recent times.

Several countries have implemented restrictions on the use of nitrous oxide. France, Ireland, and Denmark have all restricted the sale of this substance to individuals under the age of 18. In Lithuania, nitrous oxide is only permitted for medical and industrial uses. Additionally, Denmark has outlawed carrying nitrous oxide in public areas and has made selling it for recreational use against the law.

Public understanding is still not up to where it should be," Hoopsick stated. "Many individuals—including parents, teachers, and even certain healthcare professionals—are unaware of just how prevalent the use of nitrous oxide has become or how hazardous it can be.

I hope they understand that being legal does not equate to safety, and that open, unbiased discussions from the start can have a meaningful impact.

Do you want to tell a health-related experience? Do you have a query regarding nitrous oxide? Let us know through health@ .

Reference

Yockey, R. A., & Hoopesick, R. A. (2025). U.S. Nitrous Oxide Mortality. JAMA Network Open , 8 (7). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.22164

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