Inhalants are a class of substances that people inhale to experience a high. They produce intoxicating vapors and are easily bought or found in the home. Inhalant abuse is most common among teens and young adults.

While less than 1% of people 12 and older use inhalants in the United States, 4% of 8th graders abused them in the past year.[1]

Inhalants could include common items like spray paints, glues, cleaning fluids, and even felt-tip markers. However, there is a new inhalant on the rise in the United States. Often referred to as “Galaxy Gas,” teens and young adults have been purchasing and abusing flavored nitrous as it has gained popularity on social media platforms.

Unfortunately, abusing Galaxy Gas is extremely dangerous. People who abuse this substance could develop an addiction, suffer from chronic health issues, and experience a life-threatening overdose or heart attacks.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is flavored nitrous?
• What are the effects of flavored nitrous?
• What are the dangers of Galaxy Gas?

What is Flavored Nitrous or Galaxy Gas?

Galaxy Gas is a company that makes flavored whipped cream chargers, intended for culinary use. Despite this, young people have begun using Galaxy Gas as a recreational drug. They are easily accessible at retail stores, including big-name retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is most commonly used by dentists to induce calmness among patients receiving procedures. That said, nitrous oxide also fluffs up whipped cream by forcing dissolved gas back into bubbles, which is why it is used as a culinary product.

Despite its culinary and medicinal uses, nitrous oxide products have been abused for decades. If you are an adult, you may have heard of “whippets”, an older version of Galaxy Gas that is not flavored. Nitrous oxide causes a short-lived high that occurs due to oxygen deprivation it induces in the brain.

Galaxy Gas is a social media trend, and searches for Galaxy Gas on the internet have skyrocketed. Even though the company says it is selling it for culinary use, they have benefitted from young people abusing their nitrous oxide gas.

What are the Effects of Galaxy Gas?

Inhaling nitrous oxide can lead to feelings of relaxation. It also causes fits of laughter, which is why it has been coined “laughing gas” among the dental community. When abused in large amounts, nitrous oxide or Galaxy Gas can lead to a variety of health risks.

The common effects of Galaxy Gas include:[2]

• Feelings of euphoria
• Calmness and relaxation
• Uncontrollable laughter
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Motor skill issues and balance problems
• Memory loss and cognition issues
• Weakness in the legs
• Tripping or falling
• Loss of consciousness

The effects of nitrous oxide only last a few minutes. Due to this, people abusing the substance tend to binge on it. Using nitrous oxide repeatedly can increase your risk of experiencing dangerous effects like overdoses and heart attacks.

What are the Dangers of Flavored Nitrous Abuse?

When you inhale Galaxy Gas, the amount of oxygen in your brain is significantly reduced. This is why dentists also give you oxygen while supplying nitrous during procedures. Because you aren’t receiving oxygen while you abuse Galaxy Gas, you could experience dangerous effects.

The dangers of abusing flavored nitrous include:[3]

• Developing a substance use disorder
• Coordination and balance issues that lead to injuries from falling
• Chronic headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness or passing out
• Vitamin B12 deficiency leading to nerve damage
• Heart attacks from sudden spikes in blood pressure
• Asphyxiation or sudden death from depleted oxygen in the brain
• Life-threatening overdoses

When people abuse inhalants like nitrous, they could experience something referred to as sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSDS).[4] This is less common among Galaxy Gas users, as SSDS more often occurs when someone is inhaling a substance from a paper or plastic bag. That said, it is still a risk to consider before abusing Galaxy Gas and other inhalant drugs.

If you or a loved one abuse Galaxy Gas and displays symptoms like unconsciousness, trouble breathing, blue lips or fingernails, or seizures, you are experiencing an overdose. Contact 911 immediately to receive the medical treatment necessary to save your life.

Get Connected to a Nitrous Rehab Center

If you suffer from nitrous oxide addiction, you should seek help from a substance abuse treatment center. Even short-term use of Galaxy Gas can lead to life-threatening effects. At New You Sober Living, we can connect you with a drug and alcohol rehab center that suits your needs.

Once you complete nitrous addiction treatment, you can transfer into our sober living program. We offer the support necessary to maintain sobriety outside of a treatment facility. For example, you’ll have peer support from your roommates, guidance from your house manager, and assistance in building the necessary life skills to be successful.

Contact us today for more information on how we can connect you with a Galaxy Gas rehab center.

References:

1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Inhalants
2. Science Direct: Recreational nitrous oxide use: Prevalence and risks
3. Psychiatry Online: Let’s “Whippit” Away: Nitrous Oxide Misuse and Its Complications
4. Stanford Medicine: A Parent’s Guide to Inhalant Abuse