Nitrous oxide — long familiar as a dental anaesthetic and whipped-cream propellant — has found a disturbing new market under the brand name “Galaxy Gas.” Marketed ostensibly as a culinary product, it has become wildly popular among American teenagers seeking a cheap, legal high. The substance can cause severe injury, paralysis, and even death.
What makes the situation particularly alarming is access: Galaxy Gas is reportedly easier for minors to obtain than energy drinks or cigarettes. Critics say the crisis is being underwritten by big business and largely ignored by the US government, raising uncomfortable questions about regulatory gaps and corporate responsibility. Public health advocates are calling it America’s next crisis hiding in plain sight.
