The misuse of nitrous oxide, a chemical compound commonly known as “laughing gas”, is nothing new, but the increased accessibility of it has become a growing concern.

Galaxy Gas is an Atlanta-based company specializing as a nitrous oxide culinary additive. 

While the company’s listed intended use is rather harmless and the chemical compound itself is the most commonly used anesthetic for partial sedation according to the Yale School of Medicine, Galaxy Gas has been going viral for all the wrong reasons.

Troubling scenes that usually consist of teenagers and young adults inhaling Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide canisters or “whippets,” are far from uncommon on social media platforms like TikTok and X. The most popular instance of Galaxy Gas on TikTok coming from the now meme “my name Lil T man.”

When inhaled nitrous oxide provides a brief euphoric state as users often look distraught and their voices become significantly deeper. 

This lack of prolonged high encourages users to take multiple hits in succession which can lead to serious health issues like the halt of oxygen supply to the brain, nerve damage and in extreme cases sudden death.

The leading factor in its popularity among the youth is the ease of access for Galaxy Gas opposed to other sources of nitrous oxide. 

While Galaxy Gas requires an age minimum of 21 years old, and their company site honors that with an age verification during account creation, other online retail websites like Walmart and Amazon don’t require age verification. This along with how unregulated the product is in vape shops has made it accessible to all.

Galaxy Gas itself has not escaped blame for the abuse of the chemical compound. Marketing the product with various bright colors and the use of numerous flavors has led to criticism of tactics trying to appeal to a younger audience, and one that’s not unfamiliar to the vaping industry.

Even with the recreational use of nitrous oxide being illegal, some states are pushing for legislation that will ban retail sale of the chemical compound altogether. In May of this year Louisiana became the first state to do so.

 “This is a public safety bill that we hope further protects kids, so parents aren’t affected by this. One way to help them is to make sure the ability to get these substances is limited.” – Jeff Landry, Governor of Louisiana