Huffing Oxygen: "Big Ox"

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This product encourages you to inhale or "huff" pure oxygen for 30 to 40 breaths.

By Caitlin Haedicke

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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Monday, Jul 14 at 12:40 AM Michael wrote ...

You pepole need to get a life and start worrying about real issues. It never fails to amaze me how people can take a harmless product and throw a spin on it to make it look like it could harm our society.

Tuesday, May 27 at 12:50 AM wowy wrote ...

To wildflower: If you dont like it dont buy it.

Monday, May 26 at 4:00 PM zeeka wrote ...

lol good one really

Monday, May 26 at 10:36 AM Wildflower wrote ...

It is disgusting that a company is marketing such a product. Equally disgusting would be if businesses in this area would offer it for sale. Thank you, Reporter Haedicke for giving KSFY viewers a "heads-up" alert on this dangerous product. Anything that glamorizes and encourages a practice that kills people, most of them being our children, needs to be swiftly brought to the attention of the responsible public.

Monday, May 26 at 10:16 AM aberdeen mom wrote ...

I can't believe people are dumb enough to make things like this. I hope if this actually gets off the ground that those bottles carry a stern warning for asthmatics, too! People with asthma that recieve pure oxygen in an emergency can have their lungs collapse and should wear med id bracelets. This product is going to cause major problems especially among asthmatic (& other lung disorder) kids that don't understand their disease. Get this stupidity off the market before someone dies!

Monday, May 26 at 8:28 AM Really wrote ...

So is oxygen the new gateway drug?

Monday, May 26 at 12:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I am suprised people are just now getting upset over such things, afterall we have had scented markers for kids for atleast the last 20 yrs, and I dont recall anyone getting pissy over that, as it to promotes inhaling of chemicals, and some markers just arent good to breathe while in the same room, Sharpy, Permanent markers things like that. Wow! what a slow population, maybe you all have been huffing to long!

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