Since the 18th century, nitrous oxide has been used recreationally, particularly in British high parties. The substance, referred to as laughing gas, is best known for bringing on a euphoric rush, numbness, and a sense of floating. Recently, there has been a great deal of research on psychoactive substances, and nitrous oxide has been illegal for recreational use since 1971. This is due to its adverse effects on the brain, which include memory loss and brain damage. There is also a possibility of negative physical effects such as: Seizures, Choking, Throat Irritation, Chest Discomfort and the notorious lowered voice.
In the past, nitrous oxide has been consumed by inhaling Whip-It products meant to inflate party balloons. Recently, posing as a culinary tool, a company named Galaxy Gas has started marketing nitrous oxide online. The company claims that their product is solely for flavored whipped cream, but their use of vape flavor names for their products, the container size, and style and design of the canister suggests that Galaxy Gas knows what it’s doing. This hasn’t been without backlash, however. Many experts have raised concerns about the health risks of nitrous oxide, as well as the dangers of its rising appeal with teenagers.
Due to recent backlash, the Galaxy Gas website has issued a warning that pops up immediately when anyone opens the website. This warning acts as legal cover for the company, by making the user agree not to “misuse” the product and warning that any adverse health effects are not their responsibility.
Despite this warning and the companies claim that it only produces culinary tools, the flavors of these canisters are very similar to popular vape flavors and use popular drug terminology. Flavor names include: Trippy Whip, Watermelon Lemonade, Mango Smoothie, Tropical Punch, Strawberry Cream and more. These canisters are designed in a manner that allows them to be inhaled. Galaxy Gas spends a lot of time telling people not to inhale their product, but does not take any steps to make it harder to consume.
As Galaxy Gas has grown in popularity with teenagers, the drug has found a large online presence. Some people are even gaining popularity by abusing the drug. One example of this is popular tiktok personna “Lil T-Man”, who originally blew up because of his video inhaling nitrous in his classroom. Soon after this video was uploaded, a fake news story was spread that Lil T-Man had died due to his excessive use of the substance. While this was not a real story and was eventually debunked, the fact that this was a plausible story demonstrates the danger of Galaxy Gas.
So, is Galaxy Gas affecting the SCH Community?
Although I have heard stories of mutual friends using nitrous, galaxy gas is not currently seriously affecting the SCH Community. I believe this is because of the widespread information that already exists on the effect of nitrous on the brain and body
It is important to educate people, especially teenagers, on the dangers of different substances. Galaxy gas is dangerous because of its availability, but its addictive tendencies and targeted marketing offers a significant risk for youth. Luckily the SCH Community has mostly avoided this dangerous drug.
