Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, secured full committee passage of the Youth Poisoning Protection Act, her bipartisan legislation to ban the consumer sale of products containing high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a meat-curing chemical that can be lethal when ingested. The legislation was introduced earlier this year alongside Congressmen Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Mike Carey (OH-15) as well as U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).

“I introduced the bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act to address an alarming and growing public health crisis: the promotion and use of Sodium Nitrite, a dangerous and toxic chemical, as a method for suicide,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “It is a simple, effective step forward in saving lives, and I believe we have a shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks during the Committee’s consideration of the legislation. A transcript is embedded below.

A 2021 New York Times investigation into an online suicide forum found that sodium nitrite was being popularized and encouraged as an easily accessible method to die by suicide. The forum, which is disguised as a safe place to discuss suicidal ideation, hosts threads where anonymous users provide detailed instructions and real-time guidance on how to die by suicide using sodium nitrite. A 2021 toxicology publication based on data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), one of the data sources used by the CDC, points to a rise in self-poisonings using sodium nitrite in the United States since 2017.

There is no known recreational use for highly concentrated amounts of sodium nitrite, but at the time of the Times’ investigation, highly concentrated amounts of the poison were widely available on multiple e-commerce platforms, including with free two-day shipping on Amazon. Following outcry from lawmakers and victims’ families, Amazon and a number of other online marketplaces began removing sodium nitrite listings. In May 2023, a Canadian citizen was arrested and charged for shipping packages containing lethal amounts of sodium nitrite to over 40 countries, including 272 sales to individuals in the United Kingdom, of whom at least 88 people died.

The Youth Poisoning Protection Act bans the sale of consumer products with a concentration of sodium nitrite greater than 10 percent. The legislation now moves to the House floor for consideration.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, feeling at risk of suicide, or experiencing a state of distress, it is crucial to find help immediately. There are many resources available, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline which provides free, confidential support 24/7, and the Crisis Text Line which offers free crisis counseling 24/7. Dial 988 or text HOME to 741741 to connect with these services.

--------------------------------------------

Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Remarks As Delivered

House Energy and Commerce Committee Markup 

April 8, 2025

Thank you. I introduced the bipartisan Youth Poisoning Protection Act to address an alarming and growing public health crisis: the promotion and use of Sodium Nitrite, a dangerous and toxic chemical, as a method for suicide.

Three years ago, the New York Times brought to light a disturbing trend: an online suicide assistance forum – hidden in the dark corners of the internet – are actively encouraging individuals to take their own lives. These forums have been instrumental in the rise of suicides using Sodium Nitrite, a chemical that, in its safe, low-concentration form, is often used to cure meat and fish. However, in high concentrations, Sodium Nitrite becomes highly toxic – at levels comparable to cyanide.

If the story ended there, it would still be tragic, but sadly, it gets even worse. 

While anonymous users of these online forums tout Sodium Nitrite as a painless way to end one’s life, survivors of this method share a different, haunting reality. They describe excruciating experiences – nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and heart palpitations – as the poison deprives the body of vital oxygen.

When my office became aware of the growing availability of this substance as a suicide method, we acted immediately. Many websites we contacted took swift action to remove listings for Sodium Nitrite or restrict sales to businesses with legitimate, proven uses for it. But despite these efforts, there are still bad actors out there – websites designed specifically to sell this poison as part of a “suicide kit,” preying on individuals in their darkest moments. 

Unfortunately, there are currently no federal laws that can effectively stop these dangerous transactions. The Youth Poisoning Protection Act changes that. This legislation would prohibit the sale of Sodium Nitrite to consumers in concentrations higher than 10 percent – the threshold established by independent experts for safe use.

This bill is not aimed at affecting legitimate business operations. Some businesses – like those that cure meat or fish in large quantities – require high-concentrated Sodium Nitrite as part of their process. This bill will not disrupt those operations. Its sole focus is on preventing the direct sale of highly concentrated Sodium Nitrite to consumers, specifically, stopping the bad actors who are exploiting vulnerable individuals by promoting this deadly chemical for suicide. 

This is a straightforward solution with the potential to save countless lives. I urge all members of this Committee to join us in supporting this essential bipartisan legislation that was advanced through this committee and passed overwhelmingly on the House floor last year. It is a simple, effective step forward in saving lives, and I believe we have a shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.

###