Overview

• Rachel Kelly began using nitrous oxide recreationally in 2018 and escalated to heavy daily use by 2023, spending over $220 per day on the drug.
• In April 2024, she experienced numbness in her limbs and was initially misdiagnosed with muscle spasms, delaying critical treatment.
• Her prolonged nitrous oxide use caused B12 deficiency, leading to irreversible brain damage, nerve degeneration, and temporary paralysis.
• Kelly underwent extensive rehabilitation, including hospital stays, B12 injections, and months of therapy to relearn walking and self-care tasks.
• Now more than a year sober, she continues to warn others about the risks, emphasizing that the fleeting high is not worth the potential for permanent harm.