An alarming trend of teens using Whippets, a popular inhalant drug, began in August of this year. Whippets, is the slang term for nitrous oxide (N2O) gas. When used it can cause hallucinations, decrease brain function, nausea, paralysis and other detriments to the body.  

   Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical associate professor at Weill Cornell Medical College has been studying the consumption of Whippets. Saltz research has conducted that teens are the most vulnerable to try Galaxy Gas, one of many nitrous oxide brands that has been linked to Whippets. Saltz theorizes that teens are a large target of Galaxy Gas due to stress.  

   Saltz advises parents that extra precautions should be made for teens scrolling through social  

media and make sure their mental health are stable. 

    Galaxy Gas has been infiltrating schools worldwide. In the UK the London Ambulance Service reported that 600% increase of nitrous oxide usage has become of an issue over four years. Professor David Nutt, from Imperial College London has been documenting the current statics of Whippets and the number of deaths caused by whippets is staggering. 

   “Evidence suggests there is around one death per year in the UK from around one million nitrous oxide users, in comparison around 28’000 deaths happen per year in around 40 million users of alcohol,” said Nutt. 

      Many schools are developing ways to prevent Whippet usage at their campus grounds. Andrew Smith, on of the Heritage Campus Supervisors, is aware of the issue.  

   “We added more cameras, we are more vigilant. When groups go into bathrooms we monitor it you know we try to deter them,” said Smith. 

   Heritage High School is on of many schools taking precautions to keep its students safe and educate them on why these trends are dangerous.