Singer SZA has sparked a conversation around drugs being marketed to kids after she revealed in an Instagram story that she got a "child" to throw away his can of whippets by offering to take a photo or video with him.
She shared a photo alongside the post, showing a brightly colored canister of Galaxy Gas—commonly known as laughing gas—labeled with a strawberry-banana flavor and packaged as a whipped cream charger.
She wrote:
“Literally talked a CHILD into throwing away his whippet drugs in exchange for a picture/video at the in n out drive through. Sad but if I can stop this s**t for even a second imma try."
"Once again, these drugs are clearly marketed to CHILDREN. Really need America to do better man.”
You can see her post below.
@sza/Instagram
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), nitrous oxide "is increasingly being used as a recreational drug. Prolonged use of nitrous oxide can have disabling neurological sequelae due to functional inactivation of vitamin B12."
The agency adds:
"From a few years after its first synthesis in 1772, nitrous oxide has been used as a drug of misuse, particularly among medical and dental professionals. It has lately gained popularity as a recreational drug, and its use is widespread."
"Its toxic effects are mediated by inactivation of vitamin B12, typically producing a myelopathy, though there have been cases of an isolated lower motor neurone syndrome."
Many appreciated the singer for speaking out.
SZA, who is currently co-headlining a U.S. stadium Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar across major American cities, has previously voiced her concerns about nitrous oxide.
At the time, she questioned why "no one gonna talk about how galaxy gas came out of no where and is being MASS marketed to black children."
The singer criticized the government for "doing NOTHING" and stressed the need to "protect the children" from the detrimental effects of these substances.
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