This product encourages you to inhale or "huff" pure oxygen for 30 to 40 breaths.
Story Created:
May 25, 2008 at 9:18 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 25, 2008 at 9:34 PM CST
You might not have seen this product yet, but it's making some big claims and causing some big concern. It's called Big Ox, and it's advertised as pure oxygen in a can, claiming it can give you an energy boost, physical stamina, reduce stress, even cure a hangover. But it's also causing concern because of directions like these: "For best results, inhale the entire contents in one session, which could take 30 to 40 breaths.
A big concern with this product is it's similarity to aerosol cans and cleaning solutions. Products like these have become popular among drug users and teens alike, to inhale and get a quick high. A process known as huffing. Even though Big Ox product is just oxygen, the fact that it's encouraging the act of huffing is pretty scary.
When we showed Amy Strauser, a mother of three, a can of Big Ox, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"And then it's such a range of uses for it. If it says it's oxygen, why does it say it's for stress and physical stamina," questioned Amy Strauser, a mother of three from Sioux Falls.
And when we told her it was available to anyone at a convenience store, she dreaded her little ones being able to pick it up.
"Absolutely not. I would be horrified if I found out my son or daughter went to the store for candy and ended up buying this," stated Strauser.
A main reason being the packaging. It's colorful, flavored and promises to keep you healthy, but must be taken by "huffing" or inhaling. An act chemical dependency counselor Jim Green says could lead to dangerous experimentation down the road.
"If young people see this as one way to do that, they may experiment with other inhalant types of things much more dangerous and many are outright deadly. It could considerably serve as a gateway to some of those more dangerous types of things," said Chemical Dependency Counselor Jim Green.
While the product seems harmless and just oxygen, it's not a message Amy thinks any company should be sending.
"This is just another example of slipping through the cracks. There again, if we don't stay on top of it, the problem will never be solved," said Strauser.
Green added that the act of huffing itself, breathing in and out quickly, could produce more of a high than the product. Same goes for a walk around the block, which Green highly suggests over using this product. It's also expensive: a large can costs about $13 and a smaller can $10.
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