'Galaxy Gas': Kids are inhaling dangerous levels of nitrous oxide
Empty large size gas cannister of nitrous oxide / laughing gas lying on the street on 1st December 2023 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Sales of Galaxy Gas, a brand of nitrous oxide sold in the US, have been paused. (Photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via
Georgia-based Galaxy Gas has paused sales on its nitrous oxide whipped cream chargers amid concerns over kids inhaling the product to get high and potentially causing long-term neurological damage.
Misuse of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is not new – so-called "whippets" have been used as party drugs for years. But the viral social media videos of teens inhaling Galaxy Gas are, and they’ve got millions of views.
What are the dangers of nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is used in medical offices as a sedative to relax patients during procedures, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Patients breathe in the colorless, "faintly sweet smelling" gas through a nosepiece. Unlike other sedatives, nitrous oxide isn’t long-lasting and patients can drive shortly after inhaling it.
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Nitrous oxide is a popular party drug because it makes you feel lightheaded and giddy, according to the New Jersey Department of Health, but when inhaled in higher doses it can cause fainting and even death.
Repeated exposure can damage the nervous system, blood cells and the liver and kidney. It can also cause numbness and weakness in the arms and legs.
Health officials say drinking alcohol can increase the liver damage caused by nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide can also negatively impact the cardiovascular function of people with low oxygen levels, which could lead to cardiac arrest, The New York Times reports.
What is Galaxy Gas?
Galaxy Gas sells what’s known as whipped cream chargers: cans of pressurized nitrous oxide gas that are sold as culinary products: they turn liquid cream into foam for beverages and desserts.
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The key difference between Galaxy Gas and the small silver nitrous oxide canisters known as "whippits" is the amount of gas kids can inhale. According to the British Medical Journal, large canisters of nitrous oxide are 80 times bigger than whippits, and doctors in the UK have seen a rise in neurological complications in teens as a result of nitrous oxide abuse.
Galaxy Gas sales paused
The company says it’s "deeply concerned about the recent news reports and social media posts of individuals illegally misusing our products."
"Both our terms of use and conditions of sale strictly prohibit unlawful use, misuse or appeal to children," the company said in a statement.
Despite the pause on whipped cream charger sales, Galaxy Gas products can still be found on some wholesale smoke shop supply websites, The New York Times reports.
Other brands of nitrous oxide canisters are still for sale on Amazon and other online retailers.