Nitrous oxide abuse grips young Americans

Eight years ago, while attending college in Florida, Meg Caldwell began using nitrous oxide recreationally. Her use escalated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The youngest of four, Meg Caldwell carried her family’s high hopes. But nitrous oxide (N2O) abuse began to unravel her life. After one overdose left her unable to walk and with incontinence, Caldwell continued to seek N2O from local vape shops, inhaling it in parking lots and returning for more. She sometimes spent hundreds of USD a day on the gas.

In 11/2024, Caldwell died in a parking lot outside a vape shop.

Caldwell is not alone in her struggle with N2O abuse. The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) reported a 58% increase in intentional exposure cases between 2023 and 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded a rise in N2O-related deaths of more than 110% and emergency room visits by 32% between 2019 and 2023.

Meg Caldwell (second from left) with her family in Florida, USA. Photo: BBC

Meg Caldwell (second from left) with her family in Florida, USA. Photo: BBC

Many states have banned recreational N2O use, but it remains legal when sold as a food-grade product, primarily for making whipped cream. Only Louisiana has banned all retail sales. Companies like Galaxy Gas, a whipped cream manufacturer, market flavored N2O canisters, such as strawberry and blueberry. Experts warn that this marketing, combined with changes in packaging and retail availability of food-grade N2O, contributes to the surge in abuse.

Previously, N2O was typically sold in small, 8g disposable metal cartridges, often inhaled using balloons. These were inexpensive and readily available at gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, and major retailers like Walmart. Now, manufacturers sell larger, 2kg canisters with attractive designs through online platforms like Amazon.

Concerns over N2O abuse escalated in 2024 when videos of people inhaling the gas went viral on social media. In 7/2024, a video of a young man inhaling strawberry and cream-flavored N2O at an Atlanta fast-food restaurant garnered over 40 million views. The prevalence of N2O abuse is also evident in rap music videos and livestreams. Rapper Ye (Kanye West) has spoken out against N2O abuse, suing his dentist for allegedly "supplying him with dangerous amounts of N2O."

Nitrous oxide canisters on display at a vape shop in Washington, D.C. Photo: BBC

Nitrous oxide canisters on display at a vape shop in Washington, D.C. Photo: BBC

According to US government data, over 13 million Americans, including children, have misused N2O at least once. In 2024, 4% of eighth graders and 2% of twelfth graders admitted to trying N2O. In 2023, 156 minors died from inhaling the gas.

In response, TikTok has blocked searches for "Galaxy Gas," redirecting users to addiction support resources. Rapper SZA also cautioned her followers about the dangers, criticizing the "aggressive marketing of N2O to Black youth."

In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal warning about N2O, highlighting its increasing recreational use and potential lethality, particularly among young people. The FDA pledged to monitor the situation and take appropriate action to protect public health.

For some families, these warnings came too late. In 2023, the family of 25-year-old Marissa Politte won a $745 million lawsuit against N2O distributor United Brands after she was killed by a driver intoxicated by the gas. In the years since, numerous fatal traffic accidents related to N2O have occurred across the US.

Caldwell’s family in Florida has filed a class-action lawsuit against N2O manufacturers and distributors, hoping to remove the gas entirely from the US retail market. "It's insane that anyone can buy this at a vape shop," said Kathleen Dial, Caldwell’s sister.