What is Galaxy Gas Used For?
The Rising Trend of Huffing Nitrous Oxide and How to Get Help
What is Galaxy Gas used for, and how can you protect your loved ones from the consequences of trying to get high? Nitrous oxide is growing in popularity and is more accessible to people than other types of drugs, especially considering that all you need is whipped cream dispensers.
Galaxy Gas is the brand name of laughing gas or nitrous oxide used to relieve pain and relax patients in a medical or dental setting. It can make anyone feel lightheaded and give you a euphoric high, making it more appealing to repeat over and over again, but it comes with the risk of oxygen deprivation and more.
Rehab may be the best solution for someone who finds themselves addicted to nitrous oxide products. Icarus Behavioral Health offers around-the-clock care for anyone coping with inhalant abuse and nitrous withdrawal who wants to get sober. Keep reading to learn more about this gas and how people are using it to chase a high, often at great cost and with real risks attached.
What is Nitrous Oxide Gas and How Are People Using It to Get High?
One of the growing trends among young people today is inhaling a substance known on the streets as galaxy gas. You might be more familiar with this substance under a different name: nitrous oxide gas or laughing gas. Galaxy Gas is simply the brand name of the gas that’s packaged in several different ways.
While laughing gas may once have been hard to get your hands on outside of medical and dental settings, there are other ways to get high on nitrous oxide products. It’s the second most popular recreational drug in the UK and is spreading rapidly to the United States.
And that includes items you might buy at the grocery store without realizing it.
When was the last time you bought whipped cream canisters for a dessert that you were making? You guessed it: those whipped cream dispensers are a clever way for kids looking to inhale nitrous oxide gas without looking overly suspicious.
The benefits of taking laughing gas for fun are why people inhale it. It makes them feel good, and they can ride that euphoric wave for a while by taking additional hits. The problem is that this deprives the body of oxygen, which can lead to more serious health risks.
Why Whipped Cream Dispensers are Dangerous
Chances are that you’ve been buying those silver canisters of whipped cream since your kids were little and never thought twice about it. But now, you must consider the nitrous gas released from them when the cream is long gone.
Inside the container is a stainless steel cartridge filled with nitrous oxide that creates the luxurious cream without whipping it by hand. But eventually, the heavy cream inside the dispenser runs all and you’re left with nothing but the nitrous oxide-filled cartridge.
This is why you should be careful with the whipped cream dispensers around children and teens who may be looking for a quick and inexpensive way to get high. It’s becoming more and more commonly abused, and it could be a sign that younger kids need help for substance abuse.
Get Effective Detox and Rehab Options at Icarus – Call Now!
Consequences of Laughing Gas and Nitrous Oxide
Just because Galaxy Gas and laughing gas are available ‘recreationally’ doesn’t mean that they’re safer alternatives to other inhalants on the streets. When administered by a doctor, this is blended with oxygen and is dosed in relatively small amounts. Slow and steady is the name of the game for laughing gas.
When you move on to abusing Galaxy Gas or whipped cream dispensers, most kids and young adults throw caution to the wind. But they should think twice because it can result in serious neurological damage.
They are taking direct hits of nitrous oxide, replacing oxygen they should be inhaling. If they then inhale repeatedly, the oxygen deprivation is even worse. It poses serious health risks such as fainting, heart attack, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and seizures.
Keep in mind that even though these are severe health consequences on their own, they also have the potential to be fatal. If you suspect that your child or another loved one is inhaling nitrous oxide to get high, you should consider seeking help for them at a qualified rehab.
Getting Help for Nitrous Oxide Products and Rehab Options
Whether young people saw whipped cream chargers as part of social media trends or got into it as a sort of party drug, it’s important for them to seek help. They may develop a dependence on the drug that can lead to nerve damage and other long-term effects.
Most of the time, people who struggle with nitrous oxide abuse will require a medical detox. Cravings and withdrawal effects from the drug can vary based on dependence but could be uncomfortable at best. The worst of the symptoms will be over within about a week.
Symptoms of withdrawal from Galaxy Gas include:
- Hand tremors
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Mood issues or anxiety
- Insomnia
It’s best to be in the care of a medical team to observe you and offer you help when needed. They may be able to prescribe something to counteract your symptoms temporarily, giving you comfort and some counseling when you need it most.
This is a safe space where you know you won’t be able to return to drug use when the temptation strikes–and rest assured that it will, no matter how determined you are to stay sober.
Pursuing Long-Term Rehab for the Best Outcomes
Following detox, you may want to consider pursuing more treatments that can help you with inhalant abuse. At Icarus Behavioral Health, we offer comprehensive treatment solutions that can be worked easily into your life.
We offer a residential rehab program where you can live in our comfortable, accredited facility with access to a full day of help and resources. When the day is done, you’ll sleep overnight here, ensuring that you don’t have any opportunities to return to drugs for recreational purposes. The only drugs you will receive are the ones your medical team prescribes.
Alternatively, you may want a less restrictive treatment. Our intensive outpatient program allows you to attend therapies during the day and return to your own home in the evening. It’s a great step down from residential care. You’ll be able to keep up with other responsibilities and connect with loved ones who support your sober living.
We accept insurance for all of our programs, which can minimize out-of-pocket care costs. All it takes is a quick call for us to verify your benefits, and you could be on your way to getting help.
Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance – Call Now!
Call Icarus for Galaxy Gas and Nitrous Abuse Treatment
If you purposely inhale Galaxy Gas, other brands of laughing gas, or whipped cream meant for culinary use, then it may be time to start thinking about pursuing help for substance misuse. Icarus Behavioral Health offers a soft space to land and get the help you need in a private, comfortable setting at multiple levels of care.
Our enrollment team is always available to answer your questions and verify your insurance benefits to see if our program fits your substance abuse. From medical detox to intensive outpatient, we work with you to find the right situation to offer the help you require.
Contact us today to learn more about our program and reserve your spot to get the help you need for Galaxy Gas!
References
- van Amsterdam, J., Nabben, T., & van den Brink, W. (2015). Recreational nitrous oxide use: Prevalence and risks. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP, 73(3), 790–796.
- Thompson, A. G., Leite, M. I., Lunn, M. P., & Bennett, D. L. (2015). Whippits, nitrous oxide and the dangers of legal highs. Practical neurology, 15(3), 207–209.
- Davidson L. T. (2023). Recreational use of nitrous oxide causes seizure, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pneumopericardium: nitrous oxide and its harm, a case report. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 128, 10.48101/ujms.v128.10281.
