Galaxy Gas Effects
There is a new emerging viral trend that involves the inhalation of Galaxy Gas products containing nitrous oxide. The Galaxy Gas effects include the feeling of euphoria and sensations of floating, which is why it has become very popular among teens and young people. Inhalant use is not new. However, the popularity of the Atlanta-based brand has been trending on social media like TikTok and Instagram, where videos are showing how young people are inhaling the nitrous oxide cartridges.
According to data from SAMHSA, nationally, more than 25 million people over the age of 12 have tried inhalants. The rate of inhalant use in the US has been declining over the past two decades. However, researchers suggest it is because the type of drug use is still highly underreported.
Nitrous oxide is traditionally used in medical procedures like dental procedures to help patients relax and feel less pain. It is administered slowly to prevent blocking the oxygen supply to organs in the body. However, when abused, it can be very risky for teens and young people who do not fully understand the consequences of inhaling the gas.
Brands like Galaxy Gas, which make nitrous oxide products, can be easily bought in stores or online from major marketplaces like Walmart, Amazon or eBay. This allows full and easy access to a dangerous substance that can be abused and cause life-threatening side effects.
What is inhalant use?
Inhalant use disorder has been around for years. Inhalant substances that are commonly abused are referred to as whippets. The act of recreational abuse of inhalants is referred to as huffing, bagging or chroming. One of the most popular inhalant substances is nitrous oxide. The nitrous gas is odorless, colorless and non-flammable.
Nitrous oxide is a laughing gas that has been used recreationally, known to cause dissociative effects. These effects are very short-lived and lack the ability to be detected through drug testing. This is what makes it so appealing to young people.
Laughing gas or whippets are often associated with recreational drug use among young people. The effects of the gas can be felt within seconds after inhalation. The inhalant drug disrupts the central nervous system and reduces brain activity by temporarily cutting off the oxygen supply. This slows down the nervous system to produce a sense of calm and relaxation.
What is Galaxy Gas?
Galaxy Gas is an Atlanta-based company that produces whipped cream canisters filled with nitrous oxide. The products are intended for culinary purposes and come in various flavors. Galaxy Gas is just one of many brands that have become popular on social media and is now used as a universal term for addictive inhalants.
The brand has marketed their products in colorful cylinders of high-quality whipped cream dispensers with flavors such as strawberry, mango smoothie, blueberry and vanilla cupcake. It is bottles of pressurized nitrous oxide being sold for culinary use.
Their website is also eye-catching, filled with colors and advertising for other types of merchandise that include t-shirts, bottle openers, and rainbow colored whipped cream dispensers. The brand claims the products are only intended for culinary purposes. However, their branding and marketing of colorfully placed and decorated products portray a different story.
Galaxy Gas Effects
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Sedation
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Impaired motor coordination and impaired judgment
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain and heart attack
- Numbness and tingling of hands and feet
- Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
- Damage to nerve and brain cells
- Hear irregularities
- Blood pressure changes
- Frostbite or burns around the nose, lips and throat
- Slurred speech and blurry vision
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
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Long-term risks of Galaxy Gas
- Seizures
- Anemia
- Nerve damage
- Nitrous oxide dependency
- Decreased oxygen levels to the brain
- Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
- Anxiety and depression
- New or worsening psychotic symptoms
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Neurological issues
- Kidney damage and liver damage
Why are teens and young people using Galaxy Gas to get high?
Inhalant abuse of whippets is not new. Young people are especially prone to inhaling nitrous oxide and other similar types of substances. Recently, videos all over social media platforms show other young people inhaling the gas, showing others how to do it and showing the effects of doing so.
Teen years are a period of time where the combination of curiosity, peer pressure and desire to experiment and do things that can be considered unacceptable are more prevalent. These are just some of the motivating factors that can lead young people to experiment with whippets and other inhalant substances.
Social media exposure has played a heavy hand in its influence on the drug. A popular social media personality known as Lil T Man was seen in one of his videos inhaling Galaxy Gas. With a quick search on TikTok or Instagram, the social media platforms will bring up thousands of videos on the product, how to use it and how to use it recreationally to get high. Another viral video shows a group of around 5-6 people toasting their Galaxy Gas tanks, creating an image that it is fun and safe to use. Because of these dangers, TikTok has now banned the search term Galaxy Gas. Research found that about 95% of children ages 13-17 who use social media platforms are highly influenced by them.
Celebrities have also been influential in the misuse of Galaxy Gas. Celebrities like Kanye (Ye) West were rumored to have abused the gas. The abuse of whippets has become so prevalent that many are now speaking out against it. Musicians like Lil Gnar and Sza have spoken out, saying the brand intentionally targets young people with its colorful packaging and flavor-enticing marketing.
Another reason why inhalant use has become so prevalent is that the products themselves are not illegal. They are easily accessible and available for purchase. Because they are legal, it gives the impression that the products are not dangerous. The fact that they are sold under different flavors, which can make it appealing to a younger audience, highly influences them to engage in abuse of the gas.
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Treatment for Inhalant Use Disorder
Traditionally, industries like tobacco, alcohol, junk food and other unhealthy products have invested in learning about marketing toward children and a younger demographic. Many believe the brand Galaxy Gas is doing just that with their colorful canisters that come in different sweet flavors, appealing mostly towards a younger audience.
Back in 2022, the FDA banned the sale of JUUL products after the rise in teen usage. The ban was due to the direct marketing towards teens and young adults. Unfortunately, marketing tactics that target children and young people are not new. They can be especially prevalent in the drug and alcohol industry.
Inhaling whippets or nitrous gas can become addictive. Behavioral health treatment programs such as Hotel California by the Sea provide support for substance use disorders like inhalant abuse. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We also utilize evidence-based treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals of sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/galaxy-gas-the-dangerous-viral-trend
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/galaxy-gas-nitrous-oxide-social-media-controversy
https://www.addictioncenter.com/community/galaxy-gas
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/health/galaxy-gas-trend-nitrous-oxide-risks-wellness