Galaxy Gas: What it is, the risks and more

CNN
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For some young people, the abuse of laughing gas is a popular method of getting high quickly – recently in the form of nitrous oxide from products made by Galaxy Gas.

Those products are the Atlanta-based company's cream chargers, which are designed exclusively for culinary use, including cold brew coffee, desserts, sauces and more. A cream charger is a stainless steel cartridge filled with nitrous oxide that, when dispensed, whips cream and other ingredients into a foamy state, the company says. However, without food ingredients in the container, only nitrous oxide is released when the charger is dispensed.

Abuse of nitrous oxide – or “whippet-making,” as older adults might call it – is nothing new, says Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and associate psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

But the practice is “growing rapidly” in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to a March 2018 study. The number of young people abusing nitrous oxide is also increasing: among 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK – where possession is now illegal – nitrous oxide use was the second most common in 2020, after cannabis. And in the Netherlands, the rise in use has been linked to a rising number of young people being hospitalized with neurological complaints.

The teenage years often involve a combination of increased curiosity, peer pressure, the desire to experiment or do things that are considered unacceptable, the desire to fit in, mood swings and other stressors that teens may want to escape from, Saltz said.

“All of these things can motivate a teenager to try a substance that gets them high,” she added. And “the path to notoriety is of course made much easier by social media.”

TikTok, for example, is now trying to prevent users from viewing content that would be revealed by searching for “Galaxy Gas” on its platform by directing users to helplines and resources on the effects of substance abuse. However, videos that circumvent censorship by omitting certain letters of the tag have millions of views. (It's worth noting that some social media videos tagged “Galaxy Gas” feature other brands of nitrous oxide products.)

And while the products themselves aren't harmful, the availability of different flavors can be tempting for kids, Saltz says.

The unauthorized misuse of nitrous oxide products poses a serious health risk, a Galaxy Gas spokesman said in a statement.

“Galaxy Gas products are intended for responsible culinary use only and we are deeply concerned about recent news reports and social media posts of individuals illegally misusing our products,” the company spokesperson added. For this reason, Galaxy Gas has suspended the sale of all cream chargers for the time being.

“Both our terms of use and our terms of sale strictly prohibit unlawful use, abuse or attraction to children,” the spokesperson said. “If you or someone you know is abusing a nitrous oxide product, please call or text the crisis hotline at 988 for assistance in contacting substance abuse support services.”

Here's what parents should know about the risks, what signs your child may be using such products, and how to talk to them about substance abuse and social media trends.

The original purpose of nitrous oxide was for medical use, such as to relax patients before dental procedures, Saltz said.

In that context, “it's usually given as a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide, not pure nitrous oxide, and regulated at a certain setting,” Saltz said. “It's given slowly … so it doesn't destroy the oxygen supply you would otherwise be getting. And it's not a rush, either.”

However, inhaling short bursts of pure nitrous oxide essentially replaces oxygen supply, which can lead to unconsciousness, heart attack, malaise, loss of coordination, headaches, nausea, vomiting and seizures, Saltz said. Other risks include brain damage, anemia, nerve damage, paralysis, vitamin B12 deficiency and nitrous oxide dependence.

Abuse of nitrous oxide can also be fatal. The level of exposure required depends on the amount and the person.

Given these risks, it is important that guardians continually and openly talk with their children about the abuse of nitrous oxide and substances in general, Saltz said.

“Most parents just think that their child doesn't know about it or won't find out because they want it to,” Saltz added. “But the reality is that it's entirely possible that a teenage child is exposed to all of this and knows it and that someone in their environment is participating in it. So it's just naive to think, 'If I don't say anything, they won't find out about it and they'll stumble across it.'”

It's better to talk to them before they reach their teens rather than waiting until they're out of high school – which often happens – because that won't encourage them to abuse substances, Saltz says.

Always start with questions, not lectures, which could cause children to stop listening to you, she said. These can include: “Have you heard about this? What do you know, think and feel about it?” “What do you see on social media about it?” “Are any of your friends doing this?”

The conversation should be based on mutual participation, but you should share your concerns and answers to these questions, Saltz said. Remind them that the videos they see of teens having fun while abusing laughing gas together are just one piece of the puzzle — they don't show the harm these activities sometimes cause, and just because those effects don't happen to everyone doesn't mean it won't happen to them. Encourage your child to come to you before trying anything they see online.

Make it clear that you are always available to talk or answer questions, and that if the person or their friends ever find themselves in a troubling situation, you will always help first and ask questions later, Saltz said.

Signs that your child is abusing nitrous oxide may include empty bottles in their room, fits of laughter, an inexplicable and bizarre state of euphoria, not being aware of money and being around children with similar problems, Saltz said. Other possible indicators include a decline in academic or athletic performance or an unusual preference for being alone.

If your child innocently asks if the family can buy a cream charger, or if you notice that yours is missing, these are also warning signs.

“If you think your child is using something regularly,” she added, “it's a good idea to take them to a (mental health) professional – someone who has experience with substance use or abuse, because simply asking your child to stop may not be possible.”