Whippets: Drug Dangers and Where to Get Help

What Are Whippets the Drug?

Not to be confused with the breed of racing dog, the drug Whippets are a type of inhalant that utilizes nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a colorless, sweet-smelling gas that is often used in medical and dental procedures for its anesthetic and pain-reducing effects. Whippets are small cartridges containing this substance.

Because nitrous oxide is not a scheduled drug under US law and therefore is not subject to DEA enforcement. This means whippets are easy to find in everyday items.

It’s most commonly found in whipped cream dispensers, where the nitrous oxide is used to create the necessary pressure to whip and dispense the cream from the canister. Nitrous oxide is also used in cooking sprays.

It’s also worth noting that whippets are often sold in head shops or online, and can be easily purchased by minors, which has led to concerns about their potential for abuse among young people. 

Using the drug whippets recreationally is referred to as ‘doing whippets’ or ‘whip-its.’ Doing whippets brings on short-term euphoric and hallucinogenic effects.

Aside from euphoria, side effects of inhaling the gas include:

• Impaired speech
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Poor coordination

Recreational use of nitrous oxide can be extremely dangerous. It can lead to oxygen deprivation, which can cause a wide range of harmful effects, from confusion and dizziness to unconsciousness and death. Regular use can also lead to nerve damage and a variety of neurological problems, among other health risks.

What Are the Dangers of Inhalants?

Generally speaking, whippets aren’t terribly dangerous in the short term. One important exception to this is known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSDS).

SSDS refers to a sudden, fatal cardiac arrest that can occur in individuals who abuse inhalants, due to the heart rhythm disturbances they can cause. Engaging in strenuous physical activity or simply being startled raises the likelihood of SSDS.

With repeat abuse, whippets can However, they can bring devastating health consequences over the long term.

The negative health consequences of whippets include:

• Brain damage
• Liver damage
• Hearing loss
• Kidney damage
• Vitamin b12 deficiency
• Nerve damage
• Damage to your bone marrow
• Behavioral development
• Appendage spasms
• Temporary loss of fine motor skills
• Irregular heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Mental health issues

Whippets can also cause birth abnormalities if used during pregnancy.

Due to the lack of oxygen caused by whippet abuse, it is possible to die from whippet abuse due to asphyxiation, suffocation, seizures, or coma. Indirectly, fatal injury from accidents can also occur while using whippets.

Even if you do not die as a result of abusing the drug whippets, the lack of oxygen can cause lifelong damage to your brain and other organs.

Are Whippets Addictive?

Whippets aren’t known to induce physical dependence but any substance that alters consciousness can become psychologically addictive. Whippets produce euphoric effects, which your brain can start to crave over repeat use.

There is no specialized treatment for whippet drug addiction. However, detoxification followed by behavioral therapy can be effective in treating whippet addiction.

Because long-term misuse of nitrous oxide can lead to physical health problems from vitamin B12 deficiency, B12 injections may be beneficial as well. If you start to notice whipping cream cans or other paraphernalia among a loved one’s things, know that there are treatment programs that can help.