Understanding these risks is crucial for harm reduction and emergency response. Once known by nicknames like laughing gas and hippy crack, the inhalant nitrous oxide — a sedative commonly used by healthcare providers — is getting attention online. Cognitive symptoms of whippet-induced brain damage can be subtle at first, but they’re no joke. We’re talking about memory problems that make you feel like you’re living in a constant state of “Where did I put my keys?

Long-Term Dangers of Whippet Abuse

Especially, she notes, in cases of extreme use, like using them in poorly ventilated spaces or inhaling them with a bag over one’s head. Using other stimulants or depressants simultaneously might increase the risk of sudden death, too. Whippets aren’t risk-free; they can cause fainting or cardiac arrest when using other depressants or stimulant drugs. If inhaled directly, the drug can cause frostbite, given the pressurized canisters they are dispensed from can reach temperatures as cold as negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’ve ever been curious about whippets, their legality, their risks, or how to use them safely, read on for our full guide to the drug. Our admissions team is available around the clock to answer questions about whippets treatment, verify insurance coverage, and help you begin your recovery journey.

• Clinical research indicates that nitrous oxide-induced neurotoxicity can cause severe, lasting damage to both the peripheral and central nervous systems.
• Cyclohexyl isothiocyanate is classified as a respiratory sensitizer, meaning it causes asthma-like symptoms.
• Some states are attempting to limit access and recreational “Whip-it” use by proposing bills to ban the “Whip-its” from smoke shops.
• Coloradans have long held libertarian views of drug use, and our liberal laws make it more important than ever to keep dangerous products out of the hands of teens and to make certain that users know the risks.
• It’s a scary situation that could be partially attributed to social media platforms that are now trying to course correct — more on that later.
• You use a whippet cracker, a small metal cylinder with a screw top, to pierce the canister and inhale the gas.

Potential Risks and Dangers of Using Whippets Explained

Because inhalant abuse tends to be early, education in schools is a key prevention tool. Explosive, evidence-based curricula that emphasizes resilience, self-control and peer rejection have been found to decrease rates of initiation. The growing use of nitrous oxide at parties and social occasions only underscores the need for targeted prevention, particularly among young people and adolescents. Misuse of whippets – by inhaling directly from the pressurized canister – can result in frostbite on the lips, mouth and throat. It’s also scary because, in the same way tobacco products have come to be marketed to teens, nitrous oxide is becoming more and more visibly enticing with its brightly-colored packaging and fun flavors. A “new” way for teens to get high is gaining alarming popularity worldwide.

What Are The Health Risks Of Whippets?

If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. People can become dependent on whippits because they produce a euphoric high that’s described as feeling similar to being drunk. These short-term side effects usually last only minutes, so spotting them is only possible immediately after the person has huffed gas. Consuming nitrous oxide can lead to irregular heartbeats and sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSDS).

Latest posts by Vogue Recovery Editorial Staff (see all)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) encourages parents and other adults to learn the signs of whippet abuse. It is legal to buy and sell household products containing nitrous oxide. This can give people a false sense of security about the safety of this gas. People may also call nitrous oxide “laughing gas” because it can cause euphoric effects.

• Nitrous oxide has long been a safe sedation method, typically used by dentists.
• No, they don’t show up in routine drug tests because the gas has a very short half-life and leaves the body very quickly.
• Celebrities like SZA have spoken out in concern about the trend, expressing similar concerns to those brought up about the marketing of vapes and other electronic cigarettes to children.
• Nowadays, there are small versions of these canisters specifically made for people to use for getting high.

Producers and sellers of recreational nitrous oxide are giving this dangerous product a false sheen of safety and regulation when the harsh reality is frost-bite injuries, irreversible brain damage and even death. And these bad actors in retail stores and event parking lots across the state are not alone. Mental health consequences of whippets abuse include mood disturbances, hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairment that may persist long after use discontinuation. Whippets ( also called ‘whippits’, ‘whip its’, or ‘hippy crack’) are a method of abusing the inhalant nitrous oxide. When inhaled for pleasure, nitrous oxide leads to temporary psychoactive states, such as euphoria, dissociation and sensory delusion.

A Guide to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

One of the most significant dangers of whippits is that they can be a gateway drug. Someone who starts using whippits may be at risk of eventually moving on to harder substances, such as heroin or cocaine, as they chase the high. Because whatever it is whippets: 13 things to know about this dangerous drug that made a t(w)een start using Galaxy Gas — be it anxiety, societal pressures, viral videos, or otherwise — it’s critical they get the help they need quickly.

It’s never too late to make a change and prioritize your brain health. If you or someone you love struggles with nitrous oxide abuse or other substance abuse, you are not alone. Find the support, treatment, and resources you need at Archstone Behavioral Health. Contact our intake specialists to learn more about our programs or to schedule an appointment. However, people who abuse it frequently may develop psychological dependence.

Yet despite their prevalence, using whippets can carry risks, and the exact chemical composition of the drug evades most. If you or someone you care about is struggling with whippets abuse, professional treatment offers the best pathway to recovery and lasting sobriety. While the substance may appear harmless due to its legal status and brief effects, the serious health risks and addiction potential require specialized intervention. Whippets refer to small metal canisters containing nitrous oxide gas, originally designed for whipped cream dispensers and sold under various brand names.

Rehab insurance is a type of health insurance that covers the cost of addiction treatment, including inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, counseling sessions, and medication-assisted treatment. This means that insurance plans sold through the ACA marketplace must cover addiction treatment services, including detoxification, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and aftercare programs. However, the specific details of coverage may vary depending on the insurance plan and the individual’s specific situation. Additionally, some insurance plans may require prior authorization or limit the amount of treatment covered.