“It’s non-detectable,” said Oswald. “So when they’re testing people, it doesn’t show.”

An ABC News investigation airing tonight on “Nightline” found that multiple online retailers allowed large purchases of the Whip-Its, with no questions asked about age or what they would be used for. A tobacco shop selling the canisters alongside cigars and rolling papers insisted they were cooking supplies, but then immediately removed all boxes from the shelves when confronted with ABC News cameras.

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But while a growing collection of user videos on YouTube portray doing Whip-Its, or “Noz” as it’s sometimes called, as a harmless, laughter-inducing activity, it can be deadly.