🔴 New Nitrogen Oxide Tanks Are Taking Over TikTok

🔴 Flavored Galaxy Gas is more appealing

🔴 Whippets have dangerous effects

Whippets are making a comeback as TikTok videos of teens using Galaxy Gas go viral.

The stainless steel containers contain nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Although it has a good application, nitrous oxide has been abused for centuries for its recreational effects.

According to Dr. Bruce Ruck, director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, a dose of nitrous oxide causes dizziness and lightheadedness.

“None of this is safe. People need to be educated in general. This is part of a group of compounds of substances called inhalants of abuse,” Ruck said.

Flavored Galaxy Gas is more appealing

They are called whippets because the cans are used to refill whipped cream dispensers.

Galaxy Gas sells nitrous oxide cartridges online in a variety of sizes — and flavors. The gas itself can be purchased in blue raspberry, mango smoothie, or strawberry.

“If you flavor something, it can make it more palatable. It may not enhance the high, but it can make it more palatable, so someone wants to try it again,” Dr. Ruck said.

By state law, anyone in New Jersey who wants to purchase nitrous oxide for food preparation must be at least 19 years old and have a permit. But these flavored nitrous oxide cartridges are available online through Walmart, Amazon, or the Galaxy Gas website without any inspection.

Whippets have dangerous effects

“Intentional misuse or inhalation of the contents is prohibited and poses a serious health hazard,” the company said in a disclaimer on its website.

Any inhalant abuse — whether it’s snorting gasoline, keyboard vacuums or Galaxy Gas — can impair motor coordination. A person who uses nitrous oxide is at greater risk of falling and hitting their head, Ruck says.

Videos on TikTok, X and other social media sites show teenagers using Galaxy Gas. One video with tens of millions of views shows a student taking a hit in class and falling to the floor. (WARNING: Video contains profanity, drug use)

The New Jersey Poison Control Center gets about eight to 10 calls a year about laughing gas. But that’s likely far fewer than the number of people in New Jersey who abuse it, since there’s no law requiring hospitals to report these incidents, even if they’re fatal.

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