Whippet, Whip It Good!

The Dangers of Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use

No, not whippet, the British sighthound, not the one-hit wonder “Whip It” by 1980s band Devo—not even close. We’re talking about whippets—slang term for pure nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. When inhaled, nitrous cuts off oxygen from the brain, resulting in an intense yet brief high. 

Whippets have long circulated on college campuses, but recently, a new and far more dangerous version of the drug has surfaced at St. Lawrence University. You might be asking: Simone, what is this new form of whippets? And why should I care? Well, to put it simply: it’s called Galaxy Gas—and yes, you really should care. 

Galaxy gas is a brand based in Atlanta, GA, disguised as a culinary brand that makes flavored whipped cream—it is nitrous oxide. While I could not find the exact galaxy gas brand, I visited a local smoke shop and located four different canisters of similar nitrous oxide canisters which employ this flavored-disguise marketing tactic. 

Safety and Security Officer Jarred Cole (Badge #109) implores students to stay away from whippets entirely. Cole says, “Avoid doing whippets. That stuff is absolutely ridiculous. And fun fact: Narcan does not work on nitrous oxide.” Cole does not mince his words about the dangers of nitrous. “Whippets essentially mimic the effects of a heroin high, but it only lasts five to ten seconds,” Cole explains. “Narcan doesn’t work on [whippets], and it can cause strokes, brain damage, heart attacks, even death.” Cole’s message to the student body is clear: “If you’re going to do it—please don’t, first off,” he urges. “But if you are, be safe. And just be smart.” 

An anonymous alumni who used to indulge in whippets back in the day has a blunt take: “It’s not worth it—a 10-second high just to lose brain cells,” they recall. “Whippets are f***in’ crazy. My friend from home is addicted – she has a decked-out canister that she covered in rhinestones.” 

A current SLU student, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared about their own experience using whippets during high school and college. “Yes, I’ve tried whippets recreationally a handful of times. The first time was just about trying something new—my friends had done it, so I figured I’d give it a shot.” They described the feeling vividly: 

“You inhale deeply, and there’s this whomping sound in your head—like whomp whomp whomp whomp whomp. And your head is making the sound, but so is your body. And your body gets this tingly feeling, and I always sit on the ground—otherwise I would honestly be worried about falling over. So, you get an intense whomping headrush. Very much [a] euphoric feeling. But it doesn’t last for more than a minute or two.”

A grave misconception is that Narcan (a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses) is a magic eraser and can undo all wrong. Yet, in reality it can’t. “Narcan saves lives in so many different contexts, and I think it should be free and accessible everywhere—on campus and beyond,” said the anonymous student. “But it doesn’t work on all drugs.” Narcan has little to no effect on those who have overdosed on whippets or Galaxy Gas. 

“So I feel like if you’re gonna try something like galaxy gas, it’s [about] being educated about the realities of it, how much it can harm you, and how you can’t always rely on Narcan as this ultimately saving drug,” the anonymous student encourages. People should educate themselves on the consequences of their drug of choice prior to use; Narcan is only able to reverse opioid overdoses and will not have any effect on individuals who have consumed other classes of drugs. 

Whippets might seem harmless. They’re cheap, incredibly easy to get and legal for many purposes. But nitrous oxide abuse comes with serious health risks, especially when used in large quantities or when taken in concentrated forms like Galaxy Gas. Some of the short-term effects include oxygen deprivation, falls and injuries. The longer-term implications consist of brain damage, nerve damage and heart complications. Death is also a very real possibility, and Narcan won’t help you if you’re already dead. That fact alone should make you think twice. 

Don’t be fooled by the short high or the glittery canisters. Galaxy Gas isn’t harmless—and whippets aren’t just a quirky party trick. As Officer Cole put it: 

“Be safe and just be smart.”