Renowned singer-songwriter SZA recently expressed her concerns regarding the increasing presence of Galaxy Gas in the marketplace. The 34-year-old artist, whose birth name is Solana Imani Rowe, shared her worries on X about the alarming rise in the accessibility of “whippets,”specifically nitrous oxide cartridges, in retail stores, particularly targeting African-American youth.
“Sorry to be old n annoying but… Is no one gonna talk about how Galaxy Gas came out of nowhere and is being MASS marketed to black children? The government is doing NOTHING?… Since when are we selling whip its [whippets] at the store???? Somebody, protect the children,” SZA wrote in her post.
Included in her post was a screenshot of a Google search result inquiring, “Does NOS make you lose brain cells?” along with a preview of a Yale School of Medicine article discussing the long-term effects of nitrous oxide usage.
For those unfamiliar, Galaxy Gas is a company based in Atlanta that specializes in selling whipped cream chargers filled with nitrous oxide. This term also refers to the social media phenomenon where young individuals misuse this gas for recreational enjoyment, which has seen a surge in popularity on platforms like TikTok.
Essential Information About Galaxy Gas in Light of SZA’s Viral Post
Galaxy Gas produces “high-quality whipped cream chargers and dispensers” that are frequently utilized in cocktails to create foams and mousses. These chargers, which contain laughing gas, are readily available in major retailers like Walmart and Amazon.
Unfortunately, a troubling trend has emerged where young people extract nitrous oxide from these whipped cream chargers, inhaling them to achieve a high. Historically, this practice was associated with whippets or nitrous oxide cartridges used as recreational inhalants.
In response to this trend, healthcare experts have been cautioning parents and adults about the risks of exposing children to this harmful substance. Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine, shared her insights during her podcast titled How Can I Help?:
“Galaxy Gas is supposed to be marketed for culinary purposes, to make whipped cream and to add flavors to your whipped cream. Unfortunately, teens and young adults have caught on that it is nitrous oxide under pressure and can be used to achieve a one-minute high.”
While nitrous oxide is not classified as a controlled substance under federal law, it’s prohibited to sell or distribute it for recreational use according to the USA’s Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act. Nonetheless, it remains legal for use in food-related applications, such as whipped cream chargers. Dr. Saltz further commented on how laughing gas “continues to remain widely accessible for misuse” in a roundabout manner.
As of now, Galaxy Gas has not officially addressed the ongoing trend. However, their website clarifies that the whipped cream charger “is a stainless-steel cartridge filled with nitrous oxide (N2O) gas,” which serves to help cream and other ingredients become frothy and whipped when dispensed.
Additionally, a pop-up disclaimer on the Galaxy Gas website states:
“Products containing nitrous oxide are sold solely as a food processing propellant for whipped cream and culinary food use only. It is unlawful for a person to purchase products containing nitrous oxide for any purpose not intended herein and legally authorized… Intentional misuse or inhalation of contents is prohibited and poses a serious health hazard.”
Notably, the company’s website indicates, “an average whipped cream charger contains 8 grams of N2O under pressure and is non-refillable.”
A Brief Overview: SZA’s Follow-Up Comments on Nitrous Oxide Misuse
In addition to her original tweet claiming that Galaxy Gas was being “mass-marketed” towards Black youth and implying that the government was “doing nothing” to stop its sales, SZA made a follow-up comment under the same post:
“Something about the childlike designs and marketing is so spooky like. .. stars and bright colors? You tryna entice the kids on purpose? Why when u Google does it say it was founded in metro Atlanta in 2021 but no further info. .. sumn tells me the owner looks like Colonel Sanders.”
She further shared a GIF stating, “Just saying,” while commenting, “Anyways lemme hush my behind up. Pray for the kids.” Furthermore, in a conversation with a follower who commented that whippets have always been sold but the marketing strategy seemed to have “shifted,” SZA acknowledged that nitrous oxide has long been known as a “serious drug,” but was concerned that its casual promotion as Galaxy Gas at the “gas station” felt “spooky.”
Reports of nitrous oxide misuse have garnered attention recently, especially with allegations of rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West’s addiction to it. Lil Uzi Vert has also been mentioned in connection with this issue.
To clarify, long-term misuse of laughing gas can lead to severe consequences including loss of consciousness due to oxygen deprivation, heart attacks from sudden blood pressure spikes, lack of coordination, headaches, nausea, Vitamin B12 deficiencies, neurological damage, and even death.
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