Congress held its first hearing this week on the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, and what made it matter weren’t just the numbers—though they’re alarming enough. A 2025 study found a 500% spike in deaths among people abusing nitrous oxide, a substance that’s readily available in vape shops, convenience stores, and online retailers across the country. Two mothers whose families were devastated by nitrous oxide addiction traveled to Washington to testify. Gerrie Gray-Benedi’s son survived addiction but developed blood clots in both lungs. Julia Charleston’s son Robert died in 2022 after months of using the gas to cope with military trauma.
Representative Kevin Mullin introduced the bill, which would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban retail sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use while preserving it for legitimate medical and culinary purposes. The legislation has bipartisan support, though there’s debate about how far to go. A competing Senate bill takes a narrower approach, banning only flavored canisters and marketing directed at youth rather than implementing a full retail ban. Mullin argues that the substance is dangerous regardless of age, frequency of use, or canister size, making a complete ban the stronger approach.
What’s driving real momentum is the grassroots advocacy of affected families. Both mothers are planning a Capitol Hill lobbying campaign in September to push for the stronger version of the bill. Their personal stories cut through policy debates and remind legislators that there are real families behind these statistics. If you’ve watched addiction impact someone you care about, or if you want to understand what’s happening with this emerging crisis, these mothers’ fight deserves your attention. How has addiction touched your community, and do you think a full ban is the right answer?
