Teen and Young Adult Abuse of Nitrous Oxide
Rising inhalant abuse among teens may signal unavailability of psychiatric care.
By Mark S Gold
Published by Psychology Today on September 27, 2024
Key points
• Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use has decreased in teens.
• Recreational hallucinogen use is increasing dramatically.
• Increaseing use of nitrous oxide by teens may be a maladaptive response to mental health issues.
• Researchers are exploring nitrous oxide as a fast-acting treatment for treatment-resistant depression.
In September 2024, CNN reported that misuse of laughing gas (nitrous oxide, N₂O) is a popular method for some young people to obtain a quick high. A popular method is the use of “whippets,” small metal canisters (also called chargers) containing pressurized nitrous oxide used to charge whipped cream dispensers.
