An alarming trend has gained popularity as of late, the inhaling of food additives containing nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, in order to get high.
Although the use of nitrous oxide recreationally to get high has never been new, the availability of the drug in large canisters intended for food, as well as its cult following on social media, has made it even more alarming.
When used correctly, nitrous oxide is often used during dental procedures as a mild sedative agent to help calm a patient and manage anxiety.
Another way nitrous oxide is commonly used is in whipped cream products, which gives it a fluffy texture.
Even though there are legitimate uses for nitrous oxide, the chemical is being abused recreationally as a drug to get high. This use of nitrous oxide as a drug is often referred to as whippits and are usually inhaled through canisters or from balloons.
The main reason why the recreational use of nitrous oxide has been so high as of late is its availability and ease of use. Galaxy Gas, a whip cream and food additive company is one of the main reasons for the sudden uptick as of late.
The food additive company sells large tanks of nitrous oxide flavored with many fun or fruity flavors, such as kiwi strawberry, fruit punch, and freedom pop.
Galaxy Gas products are sold in major retailers, such as Walmart, Target, and Costco. The fact that Galaxy Gas is sold in these major retailers makes it easy for someone to abuse the product to get high.
The consequences of direct inhalation of nitrous oxide are dire, as the drug can cut off the oxygen to the brain and allow one to get a temporary high. Some side effects of the drug include hallucinations, memory loss, and, in extreme cases, even death.
The company is aware of the misuse of their products, causing them to put many disclaimers in an attempt to ward off misuse of their product.
On the Galaxy Gas store, there is a page dedicated to a disclaimer that states, “Galaxy Gas reserves the right to refuse the sale of this product to anyone, if we feel like the product may be misused. We do not take liability for the misuse of this product” with the words “DO NOT INHALE CONTENTS” written in large bolded letters right above it.
In addition to the disclaimer on the website, there is also a large warning on the canister telling people not to inhale. These warnings however have done little to stop the trend on social media.
On platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, we can see that people, often teenagers, are directly inhaling the nitrous oxide from large flavored canisters. Many people see the use of the drug and are posting their opinions on the trend while pointing out the dangers.
However, since so many people are seen openly using the drug on the internet it causes other unassuming people to want to use the drug.
This, combined with the fun flavors that are easily obtainable in any large retailer, makes the abuse of nitrous oxide a disturbing development.