Emerging drug epidemic alert: A popular dental sedative turns party favor

By Todd Neale | Fact-checked by Barbara Bekiesz

Published February 19, 2025

Key Takeaways

Industry Buzz

“Nitrous oxide is often abused by people [to] make them feel giddy and to induce feelings of euphoria. Long-term use of nitrous oxide can result in a number of medical problems, including vitamin b12 deficiency ... and also a number of neurological problems which, at the most extreme level, can cause paralysis. People don’t think that abusing nitrous oxide will affect them in this way, but it absolutely can.” — Mohsin Butt, MBBS, MRCP(UK)

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Abuse of nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” is becoming a growing concern for healthcare professionals, especially as its recreational use skyrockets among young people.

Originally used in medical settings and for food preparation, nitrous oxide’s misuse is now gaining attention as a potential epidemic, with experts warning of its dangerous effects.

A survey from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed that more than 2 million people ages 12 and older had misused the gas in 2019 alone, while a similar report from the UK Office for National Statistics revealed that the substance was the second most commonly used recreational drug (behind cannabis) among 16- to 24-year-olds.^[]^[]

Ethan Bryson, MD, an anesthesiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, pointed out that nitrous oxide has been abused for centuries, from the “nitrous frolics” of the late 18th and early 19th centuries up through modern day. However, use is increasing, primarily driven by easier access.

Learn more about the dangers of nitrous oxide abuse—and it’s growing popularity among patients—here:

Widespread availability is an issue

Although nitrous oxide has been used recreationally for a long time, its use seems to be reaching new levels. A recent article in New York magazine highlighted the growing trend, noting that nitrous oxide is now marketed in a variety of forms, including “toddler-size, candy-flavored, Day-Glo–colored tanks.”^[]

Despite being illegal for recreational use, nitrous oxide is widely available, as it can be sold legally, often without restrictions, for certain purposes: In food processing, it is used as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers; it is also used to boost engine performance in cars. For the average consumer, nitrous oxide is available at most smoke shops and gas stations. With little regulation, laughing gas is ubiquitous wherever young people gather, whether that’s festivals, concerts, nightclubs, or parties.

In a TikTok video, Dr. David Nicholl, a neurologist at Birmingham City Hospital in England, described the alarming frequency of hospital visits from young people suffering from the effects of nitrous oxide abuse. He showed how the gas is now available in containers much larger than small “whippets.” Inhaling all the gas from the largest size “would kill you,” he warned.

Not as lethal as opioids, but still a huge problem

Although nitrous oxide is less deadly than opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil, which are driving their own epidemic, the gas still has detrimental effects. It can deplete oxygen in the brain, leading to fainting, brain damage, or—in some cases—death. Chronic abuse over long periods of time can also lead to a variety of problems, including memory loss, numbness in the hands and feet, limb spasms, psychosis, and others.^[]

“As far as deaths related to nitrous oxide misuse, it’s inconsequential compared to opioids, but we do see more and more patients admitted with problems related to chronic use,” Dr. Bryson said, stressing that people who inhale the gas are often abusing other drugs as well.