No Laughing Matter: The Dangers of Legally Available Nitrous Oxide
Despite the potentially deadly side effects, nitrous oxide remains widely available to consumers in the United States, including right here in Dallas.
Better known as 'laughing gas,' nitrous oxide has legitimate uses, from a painkiller during dental procedures to a whipping agent for certain culinary recipes. However, it also serves another, more sinister purpose: to help get young Americans high.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, usage of the gas skyrocketed. This has led to some manufacturers now offering large containers for sale online. To make matters worse, the drug is often marketed in bright, colorful packaging.
Unfortunately for its users, the consequences of the drug can be severe.
The gas can cause hypoxia, where insufficient oxygen reaches the brain. Regular use can also result in Vitamin B12 deficiency, leading to nerve damage and even paralysis.
In the worst cases, it can even lead to death.
Florida native Meg Caldwell succumbed to a nitrous oxide overdose after being addicted to the substance for eight years. Before her untimely death, Caldwell experienced severe side effects from abusing the substance, at one point temporarily losing the use of her legs after an overdose.
'She didn't think that it would hurt her because she was buying it in the smoke shop, so she thought she was using this substance legally,' Caldwell's sister, Kathleen Dial, said to the BBC.
Like other cities in the United States, a quick Google search reveals that the gas is easily obtained in Dallas. Despite being marketed as a 'kitchen product,' it's usually sold in smoke shops alongside vape pens, pipes, and bongs.
In some cases, consumers can even get the drug delivered right to their door.
'Get high-quality whipped cream chargers in Dallas at affordable prices with home delivery services. Our cream chargers are suitable for professional chefs, home users, and experts alike, and are an essential kitchen product for every household. We source our whip cream chargers directly from the original seller and offer a wide variety of options,' reads the details on the website for Infinity & Beyond Smoke Shop on East Grand Ave.
According to the Annual Report of America's Poison Centers, intentional exposure to nitrous oxide in the U.S. grew a staggering 58% between 2023 and 2024, and between 2019 and 2023, the CDC says deaths from nitrous oxide poisoning have surged by more than 110%.
Despite being outright banned in places like the United Kingdom, the substance remains legally available in the majority of the U.S., including Texas. Louisiana is the only state that has outlawed its sale.
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