Nitrous Oxide

Type: Inhalant, Sedative

Breathing in nitrous oxide causes a short-term intoxicating effect that can soon turn dangerous.

One use can lead to “sudden sniffing death” due to heart failure.

1 use

4.7% of Florida teens reported using inhalants in 2024.

5%

Inhalants, like nitrous oxide, are the 4th most commonly used drug by Florida students.

4th

Using inhalants can be a gateway to using other illicit drugs later in life.

Deaths by nitrous oxide poisoning in the U.S. increased by 578% from 2010-2023.

578%

Middle school students report the highest use of inhalants.

Myth: Nitrous oxide is safe to use recreationally.

Slang terms or common names for nitrous oxide:

Short-term Dangers of Nitrous Oxide

Hallucinations
Loss of coordination
Dangerously low blood pressure
Fainting
“Sudden sniffing death” or fatal heart failure
Heart palpitations
Heart attack
Numbness
Nerve damage
Tingling sensation
Possible birth defects, if used in the first trimester of pregnancy
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting

Impacts on Your Brain

Permanent nerve damage
Memory loss
Incontinence
Depression
Brain and spinal cord damage
Psychological dependence on the inhalant
Loss of contact with reality
Week immune system
Numbness in your hands and feet
Limb spasms
Ringing in your ears
Vitamin B12 depletion
Possibly birth defects, if used in the first trimester of pregnancy
Psychosis

What it looks like

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas stored in canisters.

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