According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 50% of teenagers have abused a drug at least once in their lifetime.[1] Oftentimes, teens experiment with drugs that are easy to obtain, like over-the-counter medications or substances found in gas stations and convenience stores. Social media has made it easier for teens and young people to figure out where to find new drugs to experiment with.
A new drug trend among teenagers is called “Galaxy Gas.” Galaxy Gas is flavored nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is legal when used by a dentist or a mental health professional. The FDA has also approved it for use in whipped cream dispensers.
Since nitrous oxide can be used for whipped cream, Galaxy Gas is sold under the guise of a food product. That said, instead of using it for whipped cream, people are inhaling it to experience mind-altering effects. Galaxy gas can cause symptoms like euphoria, laughter, dizziness, disorientation, and more.[2]
While some nitrous oxide products are legal, inhaling the gas is incredibly dangerous. Recreational users could experience long-term effects like addiction, chronic health issues, and life-threatening overdoses or heart attacks.
What you will learn:
- What is flavored nitrous oxide
- What are the effects of Galaxy Gas
- What are the dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide
What is the Drug “Galaxy Gas”?
Galaxy Gas is a company that makes whipped cream chargers that are flavored. They contain nitrous oxide and are marketed as a food product. However, this company knows that most of their clientele are using their nitrous oxide canisters to get high.
The company gets away with flavoring its nitrous oxide because it can be used as flavored whipped cream. The inventive flavors can add interesting tastes to coffee, desserts, and other foods you would add whipped cream to. Unfortunately, Galaxy Gas has become popular on social media for the mind-altering effects it can produce when inhaled.
While Galaxy Gas is a new substance abuse trend, nitrous oxide abuse is not. If you are an adult, you have probably heard of a drug called “whippets.” This drug contains the same active ingredient as Galaxy Gas without the flavors.
What are the Effects of Flavored Nitrous
Nitrous oxide is often referred to as laughing gas because it is used to calm people down during dentist procedures and causes laughter or relaxation. Because of the mind-altering effects, people have been abusing it for decades. Today, most people abusing nitrous oxide are using Galaxy Gas.
The effects of inhaling flavored nitrous might include:[2]
- Feelings of euphoria and relaxation
- Uncontrollable laughter and pleasure
- Dizziness and disorientation
- Balance and motor skill issues
- Impaired memory and cognition
- Weakness in the legs
- Tripping or falling
The effects of nitrous only last a few minutes, so it is common to binge on the drug. Nitrous oxide causes mind-altering effects through oxygen deprivation in the brain. Due to this, abusing it can be incredibly dangerous, leading to risks like asphyxiation or life-threatening overdoses.
Dangers of Galaxy Gas Abuse
When you inhale nitrous oxide, the amount of oxygen in your brain is reduced. This is what causes you to experience lightheadedness and impaired cognition. Continuously inhaling nitrous or binging on it can lead to permanent or long-term damage.
The dangers of abusing Galaxy Gas include:[3]
- Chronic addiction and substance use disorder
- Coordination and balance issues that lead to injuries from falling
- Chronic headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vitamin B12 deficiency that causes nerve damage
- Loss of consciousness from a lack of oxygen
- Heart attacks stemming from a spike in blood pressure
- Asphyxiation or sudden death from depleted oxygen in the brain
- Life-threatening overdoses
While this is less common among Galaxy Gas, it is possible to experience sudden sniffing death syndrome.[4] This more frequently occurs when someone inhales a drug from inside a paper or plastic bag, rather than a whipped cream canister. Because they are inhaling in an enclosed area, they could quickly suffocate and die instantly.
If someone you love is abusing Galaxy Gas and displays symptoms like loss of consciousness, trouble breathing, blue lips or fingernails, and seizures, they are experiencing an overdose. Contact 911 immediately to ensure they receive emergency medical care to prevent fatal effects.
Find Help for Nitrous Abuse and Addiction
If you or a loved one abuse Galaxy Gas or another form of nitrous oxide, it’s time to seek professional help. Abusing inhalant drugs like nitrous can lead to a wide variety of risks and dangers, including fatal effects like heart attack, sudden sniffing death syndrome or an overdose. Thankfully, drug and alcohol rehab centers can provide you with the tools and support you need to overcome nitrous addiction before these risks occur.
Contact PAX Memphis today for more information on nitrous addiction treatment. We can connect you with a reputable drug rehab center in your area.
References:
- The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS): Drug Use Among Youth: Facts & Statistics
- Science Direct: Recreational nitrous oxide use: Prevalence and risks
- Psychiatry Online: Let’s “Whippit” Away: Nitrous Oxide Misuse and Its Complications
- Stanford Medicine: A Parent’s Guide to Inhalant Abuse