“Galaxy Gas” is a new take on the old drug nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or “whippet.” Sold in colorful cylinders as whipped cream chargers with flavors such as “mango smoothie” and “vanilla cupcake,” these pressurized nitrous oxide products are intended to be sold for culinary use. I’m here. Galaxy Gas is just one of many nitrous oxide brands. On social media, the name has become a catch-all term for nitrous oxide products that have been featured in hundreds of videos showing young people inhaling the gas to get high, with potentially dangerous consequences. Masu.
Dr. Madeline Rennie, a pediatric emergency physician at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, warned that even one use of the gas can cause serious health concerns and even death.
“Symptoms can range from headaches, lightheadedness, heart palpitations to fainting, and in some cases, death,” Rennie said. In the UK, deaths among university students will be linked to nitrous oxide in 2023, BBC News reported.
The trend has gained popularity online in recent months as video game streamers, influencers, and musicians have featured nitrous oxide in their content. CBS News Confirmed found dozens of videos on TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) depicting people inhaling nitrous oxide, with hundreds of thousands of views. Some videos show gas being inhaled as part of challenges and social media challenges. Other videos feature songs dedicated to Gus’s euphoria.
Misuse of the gas is so prevalent that several musicians, from rapper Lil Nahl to singer SZA, have spoken out against it. In a tweet, SZA warned that it kills brain cells and is “mass marketed to black kids.”
In response to concerns, some platforms have taken steps to try to limit the spread of videos featuring people using Galaxy Gas. YouTube says it “does not allow content that encourages dangerous or illegal activities” and has age-restricted some videos, and TikTok is now offering substance abuse warnings and resources to users searching for #GalaxyGas. I am guiding you. But in reality, users can get around these limitations by slightly adjusting their search terms. Searching for “Galaxy Gas” or slightly different expressions like “Galaxy Gas” or “Nitrous Gas” still brings up videos of people inhaling the product, and YouTube still shows people using the gas. There are many unlimited videos of people.
Nitrous oxide gas is easily available
Various brands of nitrous oxide canisters are easily available for purchase online from major marketplaces such as Walmart, Amazon, and eBay. However, Megan Paquin, a spokeswoman for the company that makes Galaxy Gas, told CBS News that sales were halted on September 19th “out of an abundance of caution regarding social media trends,” and that many major online The retailer said it is on the list. It looks like it’s out of stock.
Most stores require you to be 18 or older to order, but it’s still in the hands of many teenagers.
Nationwide, more than 25 million people over the age of 12 have likely tried inhalants, according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Data also shows that youth ages 12 to 17 use whippets more frequently than youth ages 18 and older.
Rennie said the wave of social media that young children have access to is alarming, adding that young people often have a lower awareness of risks and that product packaging can motivate them to try it. said.
“Bright colors and designs that appeal to young people will encourage them to try more things,” Rennie says. “On the other hand, if something is boring, someone might not want to use it.”
The Food and Drug Administration regulates nitrous oxide as a food, believing that it is generally recognized to be safe for proper consumption when properly purified. Possible misuse of gas crime In many states.
Who owns Galaxy Gas?
Galaxy Gas LLC was incorporated in Georgia in October 2021, according to records obtained by CBS News. The company was registered by Khalil Amor, who is listed as the CEO, CFO and secretary of various Cloud 9 smoke shops. The chain has more than 65 stores in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia, according to social media. After publication of this article, a spokesperson for Galaxy Gas shared an operating agreement that lists Delaware-based company Pluto Brands, LLC as the owner of Galaxy Gas, LLC.
After the product started trending on social media, Galaxy Gas posted a disclaimer on its website warning that using its product as an inhalant is illegal.
“Galaxy Gas has been the focus of many news reports and social media videos, but many of the videos show individuals misusing other unrelated nitrous oxide products. Galaxy Gas is not the only nitrous oxide brand or the largest nitrous oxide brand,” Paquin said.
The nitrous tanks shown in online videos are large, some over 1 liter, and can yield thousands of servings of whipped cream when used for culinary purposes. Asked what kind of situation would require so much whipped cream, Paquin said the product, which is sold in e-cigarettes and sex shops, “is used to lubricate erotic dishes. He said that some people may need that amount for that purpose.
what to do in an emergency
In an emergency situation, if a person suspected of using an inhaler loses consciousness, the first step is to perform CPR and then call 911 for help, Rennie said.
Another important preventive measure is to have open conversations with young people about the trends they encounter online.
“Doctors, schools and parents can all be involved,” Rennie said. “Especially given the social media trends that we know are dangerous.”
The crackdown on Galaxy Gas and other nitrous oxide-containing substances comes after multiple demands for change from celebrities, influencers and parents. As dangerous social media trends continue to emerge online, parents and health professionals need to remain vigilant and watch for potentially harmful information in the apps their children use every day.
contributed to this report.
