Mother pushes for federal ban on retail nitrous oxide sales after son’s death
By Norman Seawright
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SAINT MATTHEWS, Kentucky (WLKY) — A Louisville mother is pushing for a federal ban on consumer nitrous oxide sales after she says the gas played a role in her son’s death.
Shawnna Boone said she found her son, Christopher, in January 2025 after he died by suicide. She said he had struggled with mental illness and left a letter saying he was in pain.
Boone said she also found 72 nitrous oxide canisters in his home.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises against inhaling nitrous oxide, warning of severe health risks including mental and neurological problems. Boone said Chris was suffering from paranoia near the end of his life.
Kentucky banned retail sales at the beginning of 2026, but nitrous oxide is still not a federally scheduled substance, despite the FDA warning.
Boone recently returned from Washington, D.C., where she pleaded with lawmakers to take stronger action. House Bill 7945, introduced in March, would ban nationwide sales of nitrous oxide to consumers for recreational purposes. The bill was sponsored by California Democratic Rep. Kevin Mullin and co-sponsored by Kentucky Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey.
Boone said she wants to help prevent future deaths—even just one.
“I just want to make sure that these manufacturers are shut down, that it’s gone, that you can’t ship it in from China or wherever,” Boone said. “I’m not political hardly at all. I’d never do anything like that. I don’t like getting up in front of people and doing things, but I said I will do anything to get this to happen, whatever it takes.”
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