Michigan’s Nitrous Oxide Crisis: ER Visits Soar 757% in Alarming Trend

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is sounding the alarm after emergency cases involving nitrous oxide or laughing gas have spiked dramatically.

The MDHHS shared several stats that are not only disturbing but concerning as well.

For example, ER visits due to nitrous oxide misuse increased by 757% from 2019 to 2023.

Calls to the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center related to nitrous oxide misuse rose by 533% from 2019 to 2024.

And EMS responses for nitrous oxide misuse increased by 553% during the same period (2019-2024).

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Why Are People Using Nitrous Oxide To Get High?

If you've been to the dentist and need some work done, there is a chance they might have used Nitrous Oxide, also known as Laughing Gas, to help calm your nerves and to manage pain.

Nitrous Oxide is also used in products like whipped cream to make it come out of the can.

So why are we seeing such a dramatic increase in people abusing Nitrous Oxide?

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People are abusing nitrous oxide in the form of whippets because it's easy to obtain and the price is cheap

Inhaling whippets can cause temporary intoxication and feelings of euphoria similar to having a bunch of drinks, but because the high lasts for only a few minutes, it can cause users to repeatedly inhale the drug, leading to negative health effects.

The Dangers Of Getting High From Nitrous Oxide

These are some of the most serious health problems you can encounter from consistent misuse

• cardiovascular damage
• negative psychiatric effects
• neurological damage

There are also a long list of terrible side effects.

• delusions
• depression
• memory impairment
• loss of sensation in arms and legs
• mood changes
• weakness

I wonder if people who abuse nitrous oxide are aware of just how dangerous and deadly it could be for them.

You can read more about the warning here.

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