Will a spate of law-suits reduce harm from nitrous oxide? Plus other news and links

Nitrous oxide-related harms are rising, and this roundup argues that stricter regulation including civil lawsuits may help reduce harm. A case study is shared of Sam Bramman, who began using nitrous “nangs” in early 2023, progressed quickly to apparent dependence (reporting up to about 50 bulbs a day), and later experienced substance-induced psychosis while driving in 2023. The piece links the individual story to wider trends and cited research: increased emergency and poison center activity, rising mortality in the US, and known risks such as cold burns, asphyxiation, head injuries, addiction, psychosis, and neurological damage. For policy responses, it compares the UK’s 2023 move to make recreational possession illegal with the US approach of FDA warnings plus civil lawsuits, including a manufacturer facing a large settlement after claims that it should have known recreational harm was foreseeable. It also flags related harm-reduction content and references to further coverage behind the paywall.