Recreational Nitrous Oxide

Introduction to Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use 

Recreational nitrous oxide (also known as NO, N2O, or whippets) use is separate and distinct from the legitimate and appropriate use of nitrous oxide products in medical, dental, and pharmaceutical settings. 

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas that is difficult to detect. Normally, it is used in the health care, dental and pharmaceutical industries for sedation and pain relief. It is used by the culinary industry as a compressed gas to make whipped cream and in automotive racing to boost engine power. It is used recreationally to “get high” with a cascade of short-term and long-term effects on the brain and body. According to the Journal of Molecular Science (2022), it blocks MDMA receptors involved in memory, learning and mood regulation. According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (2025) it causes feelings of euphoria and giddiness; sedation and numbness; and confusion and dizziness. 

A significant adverse impact of recreational nitrous oxide use is impaired driving. In May 2024, a fatal pedestrian collision involving a driver under the influence of recreational nitrous oxide occurred in the City of Eureka. This was a watershed moment and call to action for the general community, policymakers, law enforcement and the DHHS’s Public Health Branch.  

This photo shows police on scene after the fatal pedestrian collision in the City of Eureka in May 2024. The street is blocked by police and the vehicles involved in the accident. This photo was captured by Lost Coast Outpost and first published on July 8, 2024.Photo courtesy of: Lost Coast Outpost: July 8, 2024

Humboldt County’s environmental prevention campaign  

Recreational nitrous oxide use is a significant health and wellness concern in Humboldt County. Many local community members and families have reported being adversely impacted by harmful use of recreational nitrous oxide products that are available in the retail environment, including tanks of nitrous oxide that steadily disperse gas and flavored nitrous oxide products. In the 2021, “Your Thoughts on Substance Use in Humboldt County” survey, young people and community members highlighted that nitrous oxide misuse and litter should be a priority area for DHHS-Public Health’s substance use prevention work.  

This photo shows a burn pile of metal nitrous oxide canisters, also known as chargers or whippets.Nitrous Oxide “whippet” canister litter found at the mouth of the Van Duzen River near Alton.

According to the 2021-2023 California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) Humboldt County Secondary Report, 4% of Grade 7 and Grade 11 students reported that they have already used inhalants. Anecdotally, local substance use disorder treatment providers in the Humboldt County’s Adolescent Treatment Program have heard that local youth will use several “hits” of recreational nitrous oxide in one sitting, typically in a group. 

DHHS-Public Health’s substance use disorder death data shows Humboldt has experienced one reported death related to nitrous oxide use each year since 2021. 

In January 2024, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors directed DHHS-Public Health staff to address retail sales of recreational nitrous oxide through education and policy approaches. While for years there had not been conclusive data clearly articulating the significant short-term and long-term harms of nitrous oxide, two Supervisors, Michelle Bushnell and Mike Wilson, saw it firsthand in the communities they represent. They reached out to DHHS-Public Health to work together on this emerging health concern. The DHHS-Public Health Substance Use Prevention (SUP) program staff stepped into a lead role coordinating this work for Public Health. 

In collaboration with community partners and Public Health’s Nicotine and Tobacco Prevention Program, SUP decided to address the ongoing issues with recreational nitrous oxide through a two-pronged environmental prevention approach: a landscape analysis and policy development. First, a comprehensive and countywide retail landscape analysis of where recreational nitrous oxide products are being sold in Humboldt was conducted. Second, policy campaigns to support local jurisdictions to draft and enact recreational nitrous oxide retail sale ordinances were led, leveraging the data collected in the landscape analysis. 

This picture shows a medium-sized nitrous oxide tank laying in run-off water on the road next to a sidewalk in a local neighborhood in Humboldt.In Humboldt, it is possible for community members to purchase recreational nitrous oxide products in a residential neighborhood. The mini watermelon nitrous oxide canister was found in a local neighborhood.

2025 Recreational Nitrous Oxide Retail Analysis 

From October 2024 to April 2025, SUP and key partners conducted a comprehensive retail landscape analysis of where recreational nitrous oxide products were being sold. 144 retail outlets throughout Humboldt County were visited. Staff and partners conducted “located in plain sight” observations of nitrous oxide products. Retail observations were not conducted in tribal areas, because these areas are sovereign nations and are not under the jurisdiction of the Humboldt County DHHS-Public Health Branch.  

Summary of Retail Observations: 

  • October 2024: 22 retail outlets in unincorporated Humboldt including McKinleyville (12), Garberville (5), Redway (4) and Piercy (1).  
  • November 2024: 18 retail outlets in unincorporated Humboldt including Eureka (6), Loleta (1) Miranda (1), Myers Flat (1), Scotia (1), Orick (2), Arcata (1), Garberville (2), Redway (1), City of Arcata (1) and City of Eureka (1).  
  • December 2024: 20 retail outlets in unincorporated Humboldt including Willow Creek (4), Blue Lake (1), McKinleyville (1), Eureka (6), Fields Landing (1), Carlotta (1), Bridgeville (1), Hydesville (1), Honeydew (2) and Whitehorn/Shelter Cove (2).  
  • January 2025: 21 retail outlets in City of Arcata (19) and City of Trinidad (2).  
  • February 2025: 60 retail outlets in City of Eureka (35), City of Fortuna (17), City of Ferndale (4) and City of Rio Dell (4).  
  • March 2025: 2 retail outlets in City of Ferndale.  
  • April 2025: 1 retail outlet in incorporated Eureka.  
  • Total retail observations from October 2024-April 2025: 144.
Staff found nitrous oxide available in plain sight at 24 (16.7%) of the retail outlets and did not find products at 120 (83.3%) of the outlets.



Staff observed nitrous oxide products in plain sight at 24 of 144 retail outlets.

18 retail outlets had crackers, canisters, and tanks. 5 of the retail outlets had crackers and canisters. 1 retail outlet only had canisters.


18 retail outlets had crackers, canisters and tanks 5 of the outlets only had crackers and canisters 1 only had canisters.

Staff disclosed the nitrous oxide observations at 34 of the 144 (24%) retail outlets that the team visited.


Staff disclosed the nitrous oxide observations at 34 of the 144 retail outlets the team visited (24%).


Staff found nitrous oxide products available in plain sight at 24 (16.7%) of the retail outlets and did not find any products at 120 (83.3%) of the outlets.

Nitrous oxide was observed at 1 Chef store, 1 home goods store, 3 independent stores, 18 smoke shops, and 1 corner market. Independent retail outlets include sex shops, glass shops, non-traditional tobacco retailers and variety or general stores. Nitrous oxide was not observed at convenience stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, or gas stations.
Independent retail outlets include sex shops, glass shops, non-traditional tobacco retailers and variety or general stores. 
For more information, visit the Humboldt County Recreational Nitrous Oxide Retail Analysis (PDF)

Local Nitrous Oxide Retail Sales Ban Policy Development 

Since fall 2023, the Humboldt County Public Health Director has been meeting with the United Indian Health Services Public Health Director regularly to discuss this work. The SUP team has been presenting about this work to community members, policymakers and tribal partners. 

Multiple jurisdictions in Humboldt have passed a standalone recreational nitrous oxide ordinance. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has adopted a standalone nitrous oxide ordinance and amended their existing Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) ordinance to reference their nitrous oxide ordinance.

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