Galaxy Gas, a product meant for cooking, is being inhaled as a drug with deadly consequences. People misusing nitrous gas is nothing new. Whippets, small canisters of nitrous gas, have been inhaled as a party drug for decades. However, the misuse of this gas has grown exponentially because of the dangerously popular new product: galaxy gas.
This product is meant to add flavoring and activate whipped cream, but several different factors have made the product accessible and desirable to younger generations. The vibrant colors, catchy name, flavoring, and massive three-liter canister contradict the company’s stated purpose for the product. Along with this, it can be purchased at everyday shopping locations such as, Walmart, Costco, and even some gas stations, making it extremely easily accessible. The company’s contradictions continue in its social media advertising. An advertisement was released by the company where actors are seen dropping whippets on the ground, while simultaneously explaining why their product is the best on the market. The real issue is the permanent damage that inhaling nitrous gas causes, especially because there is plenty of misinformation online that can mislead an easily swayed, younger generation. Austin Price, a nurse at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe explains, “the main problem with it is that it messes with your body’s metabolism of vitamin B12, which is vital in protecting nerves in your brain and spine… inhaling this stuff enough could lead to serious brain damage”.
The popularity of galaxy gas on social media, in a comedic sense, has led more people to learn about the product and the potential high, without fully understanding the danger behind it. Although you must be 21 to purchase galaxy gas because of the potential misuse, the ability to buy the gas in bulk leaves the door open for third-party purchasing, especially for the younger generation. The most important goal going forward is that the public is informed on this topic well and the potential dangers of it are made entirely clear to everyone of all ages.
