To explore additional treatment options, you can view editorially selected providers on our site or visit the SAMHSA Treatment Locator. Recovery Guide LLC does not endorse any treatment provider, and we do not guarantee the quality of care, outcomes, or results from any treatment program listed or advertised on our site. Calling the number is free and confidential, but treatment services may involve costs depending on your insurance coverage and the level of care required. AddictionResource.net, and its parent company Recovery Guide LLC, is not a treatment provider and does not offer medical advice or clinical services.

Family therapy is also beneficial to support the teenager’s recovery. Motivational interviewing and Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are effective in addressing addiction by changing thought patterns and behaviors. Detoxification involves medically supervised withdrawal to safely eliminate substances from the body, addressing acute physical dependence. Nitrous oxide also has hallucinogenic properties which are attractive to certain people and motivate them to keep using it. According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, nitrous oxide is addictive because it interacts with opioid receptors in the brain, causing the user to feel intense feelings of pleasure. More concerning is the ongoing use, with about 2.1 million Americans reporting inhalant use within the past year, including 730,000 individuals who were first-time users.

• Participation in support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or similar programs tailored for adolescents, provides a sense of community and support during whippet addiction recovery.
• Whippets fall under the drug category called ‘inhalants’ which are primarily made up of household solvents and aerosols that are breathed into the lungs to provide a euphoric high.
• It’s important to note that forcing open canisters without an official rig can be very dangerous.
• Whippits, also known as whippets or whip-its, are nitrous oxide dispensers commonly used in whipped cream dispensers.
• But lately, there’s been widespread concern as teens flock to social media to share videos of people sucking on Galaxy Gas™ canisters.

What are the Risks and Dangers of Whippits?

As a result, the people who inhale the gas promptly fall over, faint or experience uncontrollable muscle spasms and a brief lack of coordination. These colorful whipped cream chargers are pressurized containers of nitrous oxide. But lately, there’s been widespread concern as teens flock to social media to share videos of people sucking on Galaxy Gas™ canisters. When administered safely under the supervision of doctors or dentists, nitrous oxide can help people relax when they’re undergoing specific medical procedures. “Whippets” is another name for nitrous oxide or laughing gas.

However, the senator that sponsored the bill clarified the law was intended to crack down on recreational whippet use and prevent the sale of just nitrous oxide cartridges, not whipped cream containers that can be purchased in grocery stores and don’t contain these cartridges. Is a licensed and practicing pharmacist and medical writer who specializes in different substances, the effects of substance abuse, and substance use disorder. Whippet abuse can be hard to detect as the high is short-lived and the equipment used to take it can be found in most homes, so spotting the signs of whippet abuse is not always easy. If you or someone you know is at risk of developing an inhalant addiction, contact a treatment center today. 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. Unlike with other forms of substance misuse, abusing whippets does not cause any direct physical withdrawal symptoms when use stops.

How Can You Reduce Harm With Whippet Use?

According to an analysis by the National Library of Medicine, some risks in using nitrous oxide include paresthesia, weakness, equilibrium disorders, electric shocks down the spine, and loss of muscle control. Using nitrous oxide repetitively over a prolonged time period can cause you to develop a psychological dependence on the drug; though you won’t face any significant withdrawal symptoms, apart from cravings to use more nitrous. The effects of the drug are immediate and can last several minutes.

Treatment

Throughout the recovery process, a variety of specialty therapies may be utilized to address the specific needs of clients. Each level of care offers individualized treatment options with varying levels of intensity depending on a client’s unique needs and circumstances. Depending on individual needs, this treatment approach may be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy what is whipit to improve outcomes. Like other approaches to treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy requires regular attendance and commitment to change in order to be impactful. Cognitive-behavioral therapy provides clients with a way to see how these various aspects of their lives connect and influence substance use.

How Do People Do Whippets?

There are more severe nitrous oxide side effects if you use them a lot. “Because nitrous oxide displaces oxygen from blood cells, depresses the central nervous system, and can strain the heart, sudden death can occur, especially with extended or repeated inhalations,” Forcier says. 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. Whippets aren’t risk-free; they can cause fainting or cardiac arrest when using other depressants or stimulant drugs.

It’s also the 13th most-used drug worldwide, according to the Global Drug Survey. That’s an increase of over 1 million people from the 2021 survey. Or they may put the gas into a balloon and inhale it from there. Nitrous oxide cuts off oxygen to the brain, creating a euphoric high that lowers your mental and physical pain. Understanding these dangers and recognizing the social dynamics at play is a step toward informed choices and healthier communities.

Whip-its are a dangerous form of inhalant abuse that involves breathing in nitrous oxide gas from whipped cream dispensers. To choose the best whippet addiction recovery program in California, look for treatment centers with accreditations, trauma-based approaches, and medical detox services that address nitrous oxide addiction specifically. People do whippets by cracking open small nitrous oxide canisters, which are commonly found in whipped cream dispensers. People do whippets by cracking open small nitrous oxide canisters, usually found in whipped cream dispensers. Whippet addiction is a substance use disorder involving the repeated misuse of nitrous oxide gas, commonly found in whipped cream dispensers.

Lasting only a few minutes, people often continuously inhale for long periods of time to prolong the experience. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Long-term use can cause nerve problems, lack of muscle control, heart rate problems, and blood pressure issues. You might think that because nitrous oxide is legal, the risks of huffing it are small. This is considered «moderate use» of nitrous oxide.

Teens, Adolescents, and Whippits

By providing specialty therapies, clients can deeply explore the root causes of addiction and address the behaviors or thought patterns that perpetuate continued abuse. Services are structured with several levels of care, ensuring clients receiving treatment will have support designed to meet their changing needs throughout recovery. Boca Recovery Center offers a wide array of treatment options for those who are struggling with addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy works by helping clients identify the thoughts and behaviors that influence continued substance abuse. Although everyone has different needs in treatment, many people have found behavioral therapies to be beneficial. It can cause extensive damage comparable to neurological diseases and may lead to the development of long-term abnormalities or impairments.

Other Popular Categories

Individuals with this addiction exhibit drug-seeking behavior, neglect responsibilities, develop tolerance, and experience cravings. Whippets derive their name from whipped cream dispensers (“whippers”) that use these nitrous oxide cartridges. And if you think your whippet use is becoming a problem or you are facing addiction, acknowledging that it is a problem is the first step.

Of course, these suggestions do not eliminate the risks, particularly the potential for nerve damage and sudden oxygen deprivation. The rapid comedown can tempt some users to inhale more frequently, multiplying these short-term dangers. Inhaling pure nitrous oxide, especially in repeated or confined settings, causes a sudden drop in brain oxygen levels. While nitrous oxide is administered medically alongside oxygen in a controlled environment, recreational whippit use bypasses these safety measures.

• “So, it’s easy to see how people can continue to chase that high and disregard potential dangers.”
• According to the 2019 Global Drug Survey, N₂O was the 10th most popularly used drug worldwide (excluding tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol).
• Louisiana recently banned the recreational use and sale of nitrous oxide to people of any age in May, and the law went into effect on August 1.
• Calling the number is free and confidential, but treatment services may involve costs depending on your insurance coverage and the level of care required.
• Case studies of two women who regularly used whippets for three years revealed symptoms including motor weakness, rigidity, sensory changes, and gait abnormalities, with one patient showing critically low serum vitamin B12 levels (102 pg/mL).

Those who abuse whippits risk short and long-term side effects. The most common form of nitrous oxide abuse in the 21st century is from small canisters intended for whipped cream chargers, hence the name “whippet”. Whippets («whippits», «whip its», or «nos») are a form of abusing inhalants through «huffing» nitrous oxide from small canisters. Abusing inhalants like whippets over time can cause significant damage, particularly to your nervous system, muscles, kidneys and liver.

For instance, some states consider it a criminal offense to possess nitrous oxide with the intent to inhale. This colorless gas is often used in medical settings for its anesthetic properties.

“In medical use, nitrous oxide is given in conjunction with a pretty high flow of oxygen. Others fill something like a balloon with the nitrous oxide gas and inhale it from the balloon. That’s what propels the whipped cream out of the canisters. Whippets are an inhalant drug popular among teens and young adults. But whippets’ potential to cause harm is no laughing matter.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

If you’re addicted to whippets, you have a higher chance of dying from them. Drinking alcohol while taking whippets can increase nausea and dizziness, which may cause vomiting. Be around others in a safe environment if you choose to use whippets. It’s unsafe to use harmful drugs while you’re alone. Lack of oxygen can cause hypoxia, which can damage your brain and body. Don’t use several whippets in a row without taking breaths in between.