Whippets: 13 Things to Know About This Dangerous Drug

Nitrous oxide is sometimes called laughing gas because of its euphoric effects. It’s also used as a preservative and propellant in whipped cream dispensers. Nitrous oxide is readily accessible to those who want to use it recreationally for the high it can provide.

Short-Term Effects and Dangers of Nitrous Oxide Misuse

Nitrous oxide can cause laughter or dizziness, but it isn’t the same high as that of other common recreational drugs. At Foundations Wellness Center, our goal is to help clients and their families start on the road to addiction recovery and a healthy, sober life. Our outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility focuses on treating each patient with care and compassion following a custom, holistic addiction treatment plan.

Can Whippets be Used for Medical Purposes?

Whippets, or nitrous oxide, work by depressing the central nervous system. When inhaled, nitrous oxide interferes with brain neurotransmitters, leading to a release of dopamine, which causes feelings of euphoria and relaxation. It also inhibits NMDA receptors, which can result in dissociative effects. In the body, nitrous oxide reduces pain perception and can cause lightheadedness and loss of motor control. The rapid onset and short duration of these effects contribute to its popularity as a recreational drug.

According to Cleveland Clinic, « whippets » is a slang term for nitrous oxide, a gas commonly used in medical settings as a sedative or pain reliever, and also found in whipped cream dispensers. The long-term effects of abusing whippets are potentially far more damaging and even life-threatening. Combining whippets with alcohol for example greatly increases the risk of accidents due to impaired judgment and coordination. Whether called noz, hippie crack, or laughing gas – or spelled whippets, whippits, or whip-its – it all refers to inhaling nitrous oxide. The euphoric effects last only seconds or minutes, yet whippets can lead to long-term consequences. These include irreversible brain and nerve damage, memory loss, heart attack, coma, and even death.

Whippits Cause Serious Organ Damage

People use it to create whipped cream and cooking spray, as well as to increase the power of car engines. But using nitrous oxide for recreational purposes is illegal. In many states, you can be fined and/or jailed for violating inhalant laws, such as selling these inhalants to minors or inhaling them yourself.

Some release the narcissistic alcoholic mother gas into a balloon first before breathing it in. Whipped cream canister refills, nitrous oxide tanks used to boost a car’s speed and restaurant supplies that power whipped cream machines are all also used for whippets. Some people believe that whippets are safer to use than other inhalant drugs.

1. If you are pregnant or have a history of respiratory illness, mental health conditions or substance abuse, doing whippets is more dangerous for you.
2. There is a reason nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen when given as anesthesia.
3. Recreational nitrous oxide use stems all the way back to the late 18th century, shortly after its invention in 1772 by English chemist Joseph Priestly.
4. Yes, it is possible to overdose on whippets, and doing so can have serious, even life-threatening consequences.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nervous system problems. Inhalant abuse and experimenting with inhalants is more common than many people realize. An estimated 9.1 percent of Americans have tried inhalants during their lifetime, according to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. xanax vs ambien When inhaled, nitrous oxide causes dizziness, pain relief and a floating sensation.

Unlike with other forms of substance misuse, abusing whippets does not cause any direct physical withdrawal symptoms when use stops. However, it can cause excessive users to experience cravings for the substance, often needing larger doses of whippets in a single sitting to achieve the same high. At this time, they can still be purchased at smoke shops good sobriety gifts and at sex shops under the guise that they will be used to make whipped cream.