End the Epidemic: Nitrous Oxide Crisis

We, the undersigned, are calling for urgent action to address the growing abuse of nitrous oxide—commonly known as “whippets” or “Galaxy Gas”—and the devastating effects it is having on individuals, families, and communities across Texas and the United States.

Who is impacted?
Nitrous oxide misuse is destroying lives. It is openly sold in head shops and smoke stores without meaningful purchase limits, making it alarmingly easy to access. Those who become addicted face severe health risks including oxygen deprivation, nerve damage, cognitive decline, and, increasingly, death. Families are left with the heartbreak of repeated cycles of abuse and relapse. Communities are burdened with rising emergency room visits, overdose deaths, and safety concerns. For many, this issue is personal: countless families are watching loved ones struggle through treatment after treatment, only to relapse because of the drug’s unfettered availability.

What is at stake?
If nothing changes, this epidemic will continue to spread, causing more irreversible harm and more preventable deaths. Young people will remain at risk, families will continue to suffer, and our healthcare systems will face growing strain. But with the right action, we can close dangerous loopholes, restrict sales for recreational use, and prevent further tragedies. Other states have already enacted restrictions with success—there is no reason Texas and the rest of the nation cannot do the same.

Why is now the time to act?
This epidemic is accelerating, fueled by the absence of meaningful regulation. We cannot afford to wait while more lives are lost. Just as laws such as the Dram Shop Act helped reduce alcohol-related harm, we need immediate reforms to hold retailers accountable, limit sales, and protect our communities. By acting now, lawmakers and leaders can save lives, strengthen families, and stop this preventable crisis from escalating further.

We demand immediate action to end the nitrous oxide epidemic by:

Prohibiting the retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters except for licensed commercial or medical purposes
Requiring strict age verification and purchase limits for legitimate use
Implementing penalties for retailers who sell nitrous oxide for recreational purposes
Our communities should not continue to bear the harm of this dangerous and preventable epidemic. We urge lawmakers and leaders at every level to act now—before more lives are  senselessly lost.