The horse rider from Florida had started using nitrous oxide recreationally in university eight years ago. The Annual Report of America's Poison Centers found there was a 58 % increase in reports of intentional exposure to nitrous oxide in the US between 2023-2024. Possession of nitrous oxide was criminalised in the UK in 2023 after misuse among young people increased during the pandemic. Concern about nitrous oxide misuse increased last year, after several videos of people using the product went viral online. Ye has since sued his dentist for "recklessly" supplying Ye with "dangerous amounts of nitrous oxide".