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Young people often experiment with drugs to experience a high, blow off steam, or cope with the struggles they are facing. It seems like every year there is a new drug that teenagers and young adults are abusing. Today, Galaxy Gas has become a popular but dangerous substance of abuse among young people.
To explain, Galaxy Gas is a brand that sells canisters of flavored nitrous oxide or “laughing gas.” They are sold under the guise of whipped cream chargers intended only for culinary use. However, many teenagers and young adults have been inhaling the nitrous to experience a short-lived but intense high.
While Galaxy Gas is currently sold in stores, it is dangerous to abuse. Long-term use of nitrous can lead to addiction, significant physical health concerns, and life-threatening overdoses. If you or a loved one abuses laughing gas, you might want to consider attending a drug rehab program like the Mandala Healing Center.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is laughing gas or nitrous
- What are the effects of inhaling nitrous
- The dangers of nitrous abuse
What is Flavored Nitrous or Galaxy Gas?
Galaxy Gas is a company that makes chargers for whipped cream dispensers that contain nitrous oxide. They are flavored and marketed as intended for culinary use, as the flavored whipped cream could add taste to coffees, desserts, and other food that whipped cream is added to. However, many teenagers and young adults inhale Galaxy Gas instead, causing them to get high on the nitrous oxide found inside of them.
While Galaxy Gas is new, nitrous oxide abuse is not. For older adults, you have probably heard of inhaling nitrous oxide before under the term “whippets.” The only difference is that they are now flavored and appeal more to younger individuals.
There has been an increase in young adults from the ages of 16 to 24 abusing nitrous oxide worldwide. This is largely because of how quickly Galaxy Gas has gained popularity on social media and among young people. In Britain, nitrous oxide abuse was second only to cannabis abuse in 2020.[1] In other words, Galaxy Gas is quickly causing a significant increase in the abuse of nitrous oxide.
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What are the Effects of Inhaling Nitrous
Galaxy Gas or nitrous oxide is considered an inhalant drug. Healthcare providers might use it to calm you down before a procedure, like during dentistry work.[2] In these settings, you might hear it being referred to as “laughing gas” because it can make you act silly and laugh a lot.
While there are medicinal and culinary uses for nitrous oxide, many people abuse it to experience a high. Inhaling nitrous leads to oxygen deprivation, which causes mind-altering effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and more.
The effects of inhaling nitrous might include:[3]
- Feelings of euphoria and pleasure
- Intense fits of laughter
- Dizziness and disorientation
- Balance issues
- Impaired memory and cognition
- Weakness in the legs and tripping or falling
The effects of nitrous only last for a few minutes, which causes some people to binge on the drug. Using large amounts of nitrous in one sitting can be incredibly dangerous, leading to asphyxiation or life-threatening overdoses. Because of this, if you or a loved one suffers from nitrous substance abuse, you should seek help from a professional drug rehab center.
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Dangers of Nitrous Abuse
Nitrous oxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your brain. As a result, you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, and impaired cognition or judgment. If you inhale Galaxy Gas for an extended period, the lack of oxygen in your brain can lead to permanent or long-term damage.
Some of the adverse effects and dangers of nitrous abuse include:[4]
- Coordination and balance problems
- Chronic headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vitamin B12 deficiency which can lead to nerve damage and numbness in the hands and feet
- Loss of consciousness from a lack of oxygen
- Heart attack due to spikes in blood pressure
- Sudden death or asphyxiation from oxygen deprivation
If someone is abusing nitrous oxide and displays symptoms like loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, seizures, or turning blue around their fingernails or lips, you should call 911 immediately. They are experiencing life-threatening effects due to inhalant abuse and will require emergency medical intervention to survive.
Find Help for Galaxy Gas Addiction
If you or a loved one abuse Galaxy Gas or another form of nitrous oxide, it’s time to seek help. Inhalant abuse and addiction can lead to mental health issues, physical health risks like brain damage, and sudden death from asphyxiation or overdose. Thankfully, drug rehab programs can help you develop the tools and support you need to achieve long-term sobriety.
At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer a combination of evidence-based, individualized, and compassionate addiction treatment services. In other words, we will provide you with the highest quality of care possible. Contact us today to learn more about our Galaxy Gas addiction treatment center.
References:
- Office for National Statistics: Drug misuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2020
- American Dentistry Association (ADA): Nitrous Oxide
- Science Direct: Recreational nitrous use
- Psychiatry Online: Let’s “Whippit” Away: Nitrous Oxide Misuse and Its Complications
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Mandala Clinical Team
This page was prepared by Mandala Healing Center and reviewed by our clinical team, the licensed medical and behavioral health professionals who provide detox and treatment at our West Palm Beach facility. We review it regularly so it reflects current clinical guidance.
Last reviewed: April 7, 2026
About Us →Content on this page is written and reviewed according to our editorial policy. It is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have questions about your medication, talk to your prescriber before making any changes.