<p>Sad to say, but I’ve heard of nitrous oxide. It’s apparently available at head shops and food boutiques and completely legal. (Yikes!) There are two grades, and the more common one can be really dangerous. The one given by dentists and used medically is safer. In both cases, my son noted that it’s really bad for your system if you do this everyday. Sounds like your metobolism gets messed up and you can suffer from severe B12 depletion. But I don’t think the actual product is necessarily habit forming. Rather, the need to test limits and conduct risky behavior is the biggest issue.</p>
<p>OP, freshman year is difficult for many kids and unfortunately, the way they learn of this is when they fail. It sounds as if he wasn’t ready for college. It might be especially difficult for him when he compares himself to his older brother who is focused about his future and doing well. Having seen horrible downsides of pushing college when the kid wasn’t ready, I’ve changed my tune. </p>
<p>There’s no need to stay in college, at least for the time being, especially when it wasn’t working out for him. I don’t necessarily think he needs to go to therapy or rehab for his drug use, but it is certainly part of his profile. He/you should seek counseling for the bigger picture. I also recommend he continue to take classes, just to stay in the routine, and also take on a part-to-full time job to keep busy.</p>