A Pennsylvania lawmaker is pushing to restrict sales of nitrous oxide — the gas behind a fast-growing addiction trend — after fatal poisonings from the substance more than doubled in just four years. For Pennsylvania residents, this is a warning worth paying attention to.
Pennsylvania has long been a leader in the fight against various addictions. The Keystone State features a wide range of urban and rural treatment centers that include walk-in clinics and modern inpatient facilities. However, most programs address street drugs like heroin, not laughing gas.
State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, who represents portions of Chester County, has proposed banning nitrous oxide sales in Pennsylvania except for approved uses in dental practices and certain industries like automotive, chemical and tech sectors. Her legislation comes after she met with a family whose son developed a nitrous oxide addiction.
Nitrous Oxide Addiction is a Growing Problem Nationwide
More than 13 million people in the United States have misused nitrous oxide, often called “whippets” or “whippits,” in their lifetimes. But fatal nitrous oxide poisonings increased by 110% between 2019 and 2023, according to the CDC.
Despite these numbers, nitrous oxide addiction gets far less attention than the opioid crisis and newer drug trends like animal sedatives. Yet the gas is alarmingly easy to obtain. Nitrous oxide products are readily available through Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and at smoke shops and gas stations, sold under brand names like Baking Bad, Cosmic Gas, Galaxy Gas and Whip-it!
Nitrous Oxide and Signs of Addiction
Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas used medically for sedation and pain relief, most commonly at dental offices. When misused, it produces a brief feeling of euphoria by temporarily cutting off oxygen to the brain. Since the effect lasts only seconds, people repeatedly inhale several times, and that cycle is how addiction takes hold.
The name “whippets” comes from the use of whipped cream canisters to inhale the gas. People also inhale nitrous oxide from other commercial products, such as dusting sprays used to clean machinery and computers.
Signs of nitrous oxide addiction include:
- Frequently using or buying whipped cream chargers, canisters, or computer duster sprays for non-food or non-cleaning purposes
- Dizziness, slurred speech, impaired coordination, or drowsiness after use
- Hiding or hoarding canisters
- Continuing to use despite headaches, numbness, or memory problems
- Needing more of the substance to get the same effect
More serious health effects of misusing nitrous oxide include hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, cognitive impairment, irregular heartbeat, seizures, neuropathy and death.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Take Action
Sen. Comitta noted that while inhaling, possessing or selling nitrous oxide for intoxication is currently a third-degree misdemeanor in Pennsylvania, no federal limits exist on who can purchase the gas. “Clearly, that is not enough to protect public safety,” she noted.
Her proposal would also ban the sale of flavored nitrous oxide products that have no legitimate practical application. Retailers selling for approved uses would need to sign affirmations through an online portal managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania would join Alabama, California, Louisiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Washington, which already have laws restricting the sale and abuse of nitrous oxide products.
Addiction Treatment in Pennsylvania & Beyond
If you or someone you love has a nitrous oxide addiction or any substance use disorder, help is available, not just across Pennsylvania, but in every state.
According to the American Addiction Centers, people who regularly abuse nitrous oxide may need to detox from the drug and seek inpatient or outpatient treatment, including behavioral therapy. The earlier someone reaches out for help, the better the chances of recovery.
That’s why finding treatment can be as simple as dialing
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