Four years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about Nitrous Oxide. We met when my 34 year old Veteran son, Robert, went missing. When I walked into his house upon his disappearance, I saw a devastating scene of empty Nitrous Oxide tanks littering every square inch of my son’s house. It looked like a war zone. Robert was missing for 63 days before authorities found his remains, and determined he died the night he went missing. The Sherriff had to use his military records to ID his body.

For four years, I have educated myself on the dangers of Nitrous Oxide misuse. My story is just one of countless other stories; people who have been sucked into Nitrous’ tentacles. I started PANOS (People Against Nitrous Oxide) to educate others about the dangerous destruction Nitrous Oxide misuse creates. Once realizing that there are many, many more of us, all over the country, who have fallen victim to the fatally toxic poison, and hearing their horror stories of devastation Nitrous Oxide leaves behind, the journey to get Nitrous Oxide removed has become one of my primary life’s missions.

The stories I have had the privilege of hearing are both heartbreaking (the grief is heavy and lifelong) and heartwarming (the relief of overcoming this insane addiction.) H.R. 7945 is our way of honoring the lives of our loved ones lost, and celebrating the survivors who broke free.