Families impacted by nitrous oxide lobby lawmakers for national ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. (InvestigateTV) — Families from across the nation impacted by addiction to an increasingly popular drug gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to draw attention to proposed legislation that would ban retail sales of nitrous oxide.

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, has legitimate uses in medical, dental and culinary settings. But it has become popular as a recreational drug, with studies showing use of the gas growing exponentially over the last decade.

InvestigateTV and Gray affiliate stations across the country have been documenting the deaths and injuries associated with the product nationwide. It is packaged in brightly colored canisters and readily available in vape stores, tobacco shops and major online retailers, our investigatives have found.

“Given the gaps that exist in state laws when it comes to nitrous oxide use, this issue is really calling out for federal action,” said Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-California, the sponsor of the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, which passed unanimously out of a subcommittee within the House Energy & Commerce Committee this week.

Hoping to continue that momentum, families representing at least 20 states went door-to-door through the House of Representatives, lobbying members of Congress to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill and vote in favor of the proposal.

The mission, for many of them, is personal.

Rebecca Stogner, a Louisiana drug counselor, said her daughter has battled addiction to nitrous oxide for years. Her family’s battle motivated her to join the effort to create a national ban through federal legislation.

“I think my thing is coming here is, we can’t do this state to state. Louisiana’s already proved that. They jumped up and they did it, but they [nitrous abusers] are smart. They’re going to just go to the next state,” she said. “I even wrote a senator and said, ‘You regulate my milk. You regulate my eggs. But this is not regulated. I just don’t get it.’”

Facebook group using grassroots advocacy to create change

Joining Stogner in meetings with lawmakers were more than 30 members of a Facebook group created by a grieving mother. Julia Charleston was seeking support after losing her son, Robert, to suicide following nitrous addiction when she started PANOS — People Against Nitrous Oxide.

When InvestigateTV first spoke with Charleston four months ago, PANOS had 150 members. Since then, membership has more than doubled, with dozens of members showing up for what they called “Advocacy Day” on Capitol Hill.

“We just keep hearing story after story after story after story of people who either have a loved one who’s in active addiction, a loved one who is recovered, or a loved one who has passed in one way or another. So, we’re just here to get our voices heard and get this stuff gone,” Charleston said.

Candi Morris, whose son Maddix Bias was killed in a 2024 crash involving an Oklahoma driver who prosecutors say had been inhaling nitrous behind the wheel, said the grassroots effort was a way to help process her grief.

“It just means a lot to me that I feel like that we’re helping to make sure another mother doesn’t have to bury their son. And so that’s what’s important to me. It’s given me a chance to turn my pain into purpose,” she said.

One hit ‘can take a life’

The purpose behind the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, Mullin said, is to restrict sales of the gas to legitimate users — including those in the medical and dental fields, as well as culinary kitchens.

With Candi Morris’ help, his proposal gained its original co-sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Bice, a Republican from Oklahoma.

But since meeting with the PANOS families, even more lawmakers have signed on in support. In just one day following their meetings - 10 representatives from both sides of the aisle were added to the list of co-sponsors including members of Congress from Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

On Tuesday, the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act was voted out of subcommittee. Mullin’s goal is a full committee hearing and vote.

“I do think there’s a gap in understanding with some of my colleagues about the dangers that exist. I’ve heard some comments that people had no idea the dangers. With even just one hit of this, nitrous oxide can take a life. And it’s shocking when my colleagues hear these stories,” Mullin said. “So, we just need to keep getting the word out. This is the kind of issue that the more that we can educate people about the dangers here, the better chance we have to actually turn this into law.”