Author: Charles Frank
Whippits Drugs: 11 Facts You Need to Know About Whippits, Whippets and Whip-Its
Don’t underestimate the negative effects that whippets use can have on a person’s life. Unfortunately, despite what many people think, whippets use can have long-term effects on the health of the user. Most of these negative effects are brain-related, which should give one pause for thought before using whippets. Brain function is one of the biggest factors in one’s overall health, and its impairment will detrimentally affect just about every area of the person’s life. But, just like drugs with strong hallucinogenic or sedative properties can be addictive, whippets can get a person hooked on to the substance for good.
Nitrous oxide is used in whipped cream canisters, for instance. Whippet users simply remove the nitrous oxide canister, crack it open and use it to get high. Some release the 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.
B12 May Help Treat Complications of Whippit Abuse
First, whippets greatly impair your ability to perceive your surroundings and your own body accurately, and the results could be disastrous. There are, for example, reports of people high on nitrous oxide who have literally walked off of balconies and been significantly injured. Other potential injuries depend upon the setting but include burns, car accidents, drowning, or simply having a bad fall. Whether it’s you or a loved one using whippets, the best course of action is to stop. Since it’s possible to become addicted to whippets, seek the help of a qualified addiction treatment center if need be.
- This is a danger that many don’t think about with regard to drug abuse, but it can greatly affect one’s quality of life.
- Certain festivals have also banned the use of whippets on their premises as a result of the issues caused by the drug.
- Thankfully, there are ways to treat these concerning whippits side effects.
- Many of these illicit substances are more obvious than others, such as LSD or cocaine, and the public has a built-in and widespread knowledge of the effects of these more well-known drugs.
Since nitrous oxide’s effects are so brief, many people make the mistake of thinking whippets are not addictive. However, the reality is that whippets can be just as addictive as other types of illegal drugs. Research has found that nitrous oxide interacts directly with the body’s opioid receptors. Therefore, it has the potential to be addictive, just like heroin or oxycodone. “Whippets” is a slang term for recreationally used nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a type of gas that, when inhaled inappropriately, can cause some mental and physical impairment.
Because the drug is so short-acting, people have to repeatedly use large quantities of it to develop a physical addiction. If this happens, a person can experience all the symptoms of a classic substance use disorder. They may constantly chase the high feeling of nitrous oxide despite the problematic side effects, and when they quit using it, they may even experience some signs of withdrawal.
Greater risk of lung injury and frostbite of the mouth, nose, and vocal cords occur when nitrous oxide is inhaled directly from the canister. There are treatments available for this form of drug abuse. Unlike other drugs that have hallucinogenic properties, whippets typically have their effect quickly and fade away quickly. As a result, the user is back to “normal” within a few minutes of any given inhaling. However, because of the addictive nature of the effects of the substance, it is not uncommon for users to keep huffing it for several more consecutive highs in sequence. 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.
Someone who is addicted to pain-relieving opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone might supplement the daily high with nitrous oxide or vice-versa. The more long-term users of such opioids might even use nitrous oxide as a means to boost the high. Nitrous oxide can seem harmful, but when used outside of a medical environment, nitrous oxide abuse can be dangerous. Drug use comes in many forms, so it can be surprisingly hard to recognize. “Whippets” are one of the most overlooked recreational drugs, yet they are actually one of the top 10 most abused drugs worldwide.
Are Whippets Addictive?
Combining nitrous oxide with alcohol ups the risks of both substances. Overdose also occurs when too much nitrous oxide is inhaled at once, as well as from long-term exposure. Beyond the potential hypoxia and asphyxiation, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and elevated homocysteine levels, huffing nitrous oxide can have other negative effects. A simple trip to the local grocery store can yield nitrous oxide in the form of whipped cream canisters.State laws can and do regulate the sale and use of nitrous oxide, however.
The recreational use of nitrous oxide is outright illegal in some states and areas. In certain parts of the country, police may arrest a person for inhaling the substance, even if the mere possession of it isn’t illegal for that person. Because the laws vary from state to state, it’s a good idea to know what your state’s regulations and laws are so you can be aware of this facet of the issue. It is also especially dangerous for pregnant women to inhale nitrous oxide because the substance can reach unborn fetuses and cause birth defects. 30 to 60 seconds of a high simply isn’t worth the permanent damage that can occur as a result. The most common environment for whippets to be taken is in social settings, though there are certainly some who use whippets on their own.
It also typically helps patients to relax, and it temporarily reduces anxiety. It’s especially important to be aware of the possibility of inhalant abuse among young teenagers – starting as young as 12 years old. Nitrous oxide is not illegal, more readily available than other drugs and not expensive.
If you’re concerned a loved one may be abusing whippits, these 11 facts are what you need to know. Whippits produce a rapid, short-lasting high, which encourages teens to abuse them again and again. Continuous inhalation of nitrous oxide at higher concentrations can be life-threatening, as the brain is deprived of oxygen. For example, using whippits with a bag over your head, or nitrous oxide tanks with a face mask or in a small enclosed space, like a car, can result in irreversible brain damage and death.
Minors who use a fake ID to purchase the substance can still get in trouble. Those who drive while high on the gas can face DUI charges. Often they cover the whipped cream charger and their own head with a bag or face mask. Sometimes they transfer the nitrous oxide from the whippet to deflated balloons and then inhale the gas from the balloons. If you or a loved one is struggling with a dependency upon whippets or any other such substance, it is vital to get professional help. Don’t try to go it alone; start forming the network you need to effectively tackle your addiction and drug problem once and for all.
What Are Whippets and Why Are They So Dangerous?
It increases their horsepower and helps to cool the intake air, allowing for better engine and vehicle performance overall. All of these uses for nitrous oxide are perfectly legal and present no inherent threat to anyone’s health or well-being. The direct inhalation of the substance, however, is problematic. Another common use for nitrous oxide (and perhaps the most well-known) is in medical and dental offices for sedative purposes.
What Are Whippets?
Doctors use nitrous oxide as an anesthetic for pain relief. It’s common in dentist offices and other medical settings. You may hear people call it “laughing gas.” It’s safe to use for medical reasons. But nitrous oxide becomes harmful when you use it as an inhalant to get high. Depending upon the severity of the case, treatment for whippets abuse may involve either an inpatient or an outpatient rehabilitation program.
Whippets are popular – especially among teens
Nitrous oxide is safe in a medical environment because medical professionals ensure that the patient is getting plenty of oxygen. Medical monitoring aids in the prevention of complications and treatment of adverse reactions to the drug. Unfortunately, teens and young people often have a false sense of security about whippits. They feel safe experimenting with a familiar, household product, not knowing its potential for abuse and addiction. And that’s scary, because when misused, whippits are far from harmless.