Washington, DC – As deaths and serious injuries from nitrous oxide abuse continue to rise across the nation, a grassroots coalition of parents and family members from across America traveled to Washington, D.C., to demand federal action against the addictive chemical and urge support of the bipartisan Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, authored by U.S Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15).  

On Sept. 2, over 40 members of People Against Nitrous Oxide (PANOS), representing at least 15 states, joined Mullin at the U.S. Capitol for a press conference to raise awareness about the risks, and to urge lawmakers to support the bill (H.R. 7945), which would prohibit retail sales of nitrous oxide to consumers. 

The grassroots advocacy effort brought together families and advocates who have lost loved ones or experienced the devastating effects of nitrous oxide misuse. PANOS, a grassroots coalition of over 300 members, has doubled in size over the past year alone as nitrous oxide-related deaths have risen 578% in the last decade. The advocates met with their Members of Congress and staff to share their stories and urge them to cosponsor the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, the first federal legislation proposed to address this growing public health crisis. 

The timing of the PANOS Advocacy Day comes at a pivotal moment for the legislation, which cleared a critical step on Tuesday, Sept. 1: The bill received unanimous approval during a markup of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.  

“I have heard from too many parents whose children have suffered debilitating injuries or, tragically, lost their lives to nitrous oxide misuse,” said Rep. Mullin (CA-15). “In the midst of their pain and grief, these parents and family members have taken it upon themselves to come together, organize, travel to Washington, and use their voices to ensure no other family has to endure the suffering that they have. Their courage is truly inspiring, and I’m proud that the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act has passed subcommittee markup, marking an important step forward. But we still have work to do, and I will continue pushing alongside these families until we get this bill across the finish line and signed into law.” 

“My two-tour veteran son, Robert Howland, died by suicide driven by Nitrous Oxide in 2022,” said PANOS founder Julia Charleston, who lives Alabama. “Feeling all alone, I started the PANOS page desperate to find others who were tangled up in Nitrous’ tenacles. I have since met over 300 PANOS members whose lives have been devastated by the toxic, potentially fatal poison, and their stories are horrific. Nitrous Oxide can be sold at Vape Shops and Gas Stations across the country; you can order as much as you want from Amazon and other manufacturer websites, and have it shipped right to your front door. Because of the easy accessibility, people mistakenly think it’s safe, until it isn’t. We are eternally grateful to Congressman Kevin Mullin and his staff’s tireless advocacy of The Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, H.R. 7945.” 

“Just a year ago, I was sitting in a hospital watching my adult son fight for his life,” said Gerrie Gray-Benedi, a mother from Virginia, who worked to enact a nitrous oxide ban in Virginia after her adult son was hospitalized with severe blood clots. “I had no idea what nitrous oxide was, how it was being sold, or how easily it could be obtained. I witnessed firsthand the neuropathy and blood clots he experienced, and that crisis made it my mission to fight for change. I worked with Virginia legislators to pass bipartisan legislation that became law July 1. By sharing my story, I’ve connected with families across the country experiencing this same crisis. I still struggle to understand how these large canisters can be sold as culinary products in vape stores and made so easily available online when we know the devastating consequences they can cause. I strongly support the bipartisan Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, and I’m in Washington because it’s time for Congress to act.”  

“My 18-year-old son and only child, Maddix Bias, was killed on February 3, 2024, by an impaired driver who was huffing nitrous oxide,” said Candi Morris, a mother from Oklahoma. “She had purchased two giant tanks of nitrous oxide at a vape store on Campus Corner in Norman, Oklahoma. I have worked in dentistry for 25 years, and I had no idea nitrous oxide was being sold to the public when members of the dental community must undergo training, maintain CPR certification, and hold a state license to administer it. As soon as I learned the cause of the collision that killed Maddix, I made it my mission to get this dangerous substance out of the hands of the public—especially children and young people.”  

“I came to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act because no family should experience what ours has. My 17-year-old son, Jack, died of cardiac arrest after inhaling nitrous oxide while visiting Penn State for a football weekend. There were no other drugs or alcohol in his system, yet he was dead within 20 minutes. Jack should still be here and his story, and the other stories shared today, should be a warning about how dangerous nitrous oxide can be.  This bill would end the retail sale of nitrous oxide to consumers while protecting its legitimate uses. Congress has the power to act and help save lives, and I pray that they do so,” said Bridget Schoenig, a mother from Pennsylvania. 

Rep. Mullin’s Nitrous Oxide Safety Act prohibits all consumer sales of nitrous oxide in both physical retail stores and online, while preserving legitimate medical, industrial, and food production applications. The Consumer Product Safety Commission would enforce the federal law, and anyone selling nitrous oxide could potentially face civil or criminal penalties if their products are getting into the hands of consumers for household or recreational use. 

Specifically, the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act would:  

• Prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide products to consumers for household and recreational use;  

• Strengthen regulatory clarity to prevent mislabeling or youth-targeted marketing of nitrous oxide canisters.  

• Preserve access for licensed medical and dental professionals using nitrous oxide under established clinical protocols; legitimate industrial, food production, automotive, and research applications; and  

• Allow continued sale of legitimate multi-ingredient food products that contain nitrous oxide as a component (such as canisters that contain both cream and nitrous oxide in a single product). 

During the PANOS Advocacy Day, families focused on securing new congressional co-sponsors to build legislative momentum. Rep. Mullin is now pushing for a vote on the legislation by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee and, ultimately, a vote on the House Floor.  

The Nitrous Oxide Safety Act is a straightforward approach that reflects growing bipartisan concern over the rapid rise in inhalant misuse, and the need to modernize consumer protections. Rep. Mullin’s bill is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), David Kustoff (TN-08), Thomas Kean (NJ-07), William Timmons (SC-04), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).   

Read the full bill text here. 

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