Whippits are most commonly inhaled using standard party balloons. It’s difficult to ingest nitrous oxide directly from a canister or other household products because the contents are pressurized. This gives it time to reach room temperature (nitrous oxide comes out cold enough to cause frostbite) and allows for more control when inhaling. The term ‘whippit’ refers to a pressurized canister of nitrous oxide used to charge a whipped cream dispenser. Whippits are a valuable tool in the culinary world and have a great many legitimate applications.

Contact the Archstone Behavioral Health specialists to learn more about recognizing and treating nitrous oxide abuse. Nitrous oxide abuse is a dangerous habit that can be tough to break. It isn’t possible to become physically addicted to nitrous oxide. However, people who abuse it frequently may develop psychological dependence. Research has also shown that abusing nitrous oxide during pregnancy may cause congenital disabilities.

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Addiction can develop to nearly any substance, and whippits, with their intense yet brief high, increase the potential for dependence. Those dealing with mental health disorders may be particularly vulnerable to developing a nitrous oxide addiction. The dissociative effects of nitrous oxide can offer temporary relief from mental distress, making it even more tempting for individuals seeking an escape from emotional or psychological pain. Nitrous oxide has been safe and used medically for pain treatment for many years. But when someone uses it recreationally, it is known as whippits. Because nitrous oxide is a common ingredient in whipped cream, it’s legal and easy to obtain.

It’s a type of drug that can be easily obtained and is commonly found in households, as stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “When people pass out, they’ll drop the balloon or what is a whipit whatever and start breathing air,” Howard said. “If you’ve got a gas mask on, you won’t.” This is doubly true if you do what Andrew McCoy of Blacksburg, Virginia, did and put a bag on your head in order to get more nitrous oxide into your lungs.

L.A. wants to ban using nitrous oxide to get high. But challenges loom

Instead of being used to charge whipped cream dispensers, abusers use whippits to fill balloons with gas. Then, in a similar way to glue ‘huffing,’ they inhale the nitrous oxide by placing their mouth over the end of the balloon and sucking in. Whippits produce a rapid, short-lasting high, which encourages teens to abuse them again and again.

Some people abuse nitrous oxide as a recreational drug for its euphoric, relaxing, and dissociative effects. Known as whippits, modern slang for nitrous oxide used as an inhalant recreationally, this drug is a common ingredient in whipped cream dispensers. Because whippits are legal and so easy to obtain, they are especially popular among teens.

The Dangers of Whippet Abuse

Purchasing nitrous oxide with the intent to inhale is a misdemeanor in California — users face six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. These doses are always carefully controlled to prevent complications and any potential damage to the brain. These strategies, alongside professional treatment, can strengthen your recovery and provide the tools needed to cope with the fear of failure and prevent relapse. Nitrous oxide isn’t oxygen, which is something you need in order to, y’know, stay alive.

For those with a history of substance abuse or mental health disorders, a specialized plan, such as Ambien rehab, may be needed to address co-occurring issues. Whippits continue to be a problem in 2025, especially among young people. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 13.9 million Americans aged 12 and older have used nitrous oxide recreationally. This number has increased over the past few years, reflecting a growing trend. Nitrous oxide abuse is especially popular among teenagers and young adults, often fueled by social media.

Whippits: 10 Facts About Whippit Abuse

You may know nitrous oxide as “laughing gas,” but it isn’t just limited to dentistry. It’s also used to help women with labor pains and to treat pain in traumatic injuries and medical emergencies. Professional treatment can help address these issues by offering a comprehensive approach to recovery. Programs may include therapies that focus on repairing brain and nerve function and improving mental health.

Get Help For Whip-It Abuse

The high only lasts a few minutes, leading users to repeatedly sniff large quantities over a short period to continue the buzz. 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. Doctors usually have to take a history to figure out if a patient used nitrous oxide. Ultimately, a combination of awareness, regulation, and compassionate support can reduce whippit-related harm. While nitrous oxide is sometimes dismissed as benign, the stark reality is that repeated, uncontrolled use can lead to devastating outcomes. Learn how to make the best maple whipped cream with this easy recipe.

It’s therefore possible that whippets can kill brain cells, though no one knows how many. Whippets aren’t physically addictive, in the sense that they don’t affect hormones such as dopamine and alter brain chemistry. This happens because your brain likes the high from nitrous oxide. These highs change your brain’s reward center and make you crave it more. Be around others in a safe environment if you choose to use whippets.

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. People often use whippets for the feeling of euphoria they can create on a night out. Some people use whippets to enhance sexual pleasure, or even take a hit right before they orgasm to amplify it. 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.

  • Whippits get their name from whipped cream canisters, which contain nitrous oxide.
  • Those dealing with mental health disorders may be particularly vulnerable to developing a nitrous oxide addiction.
  • Coupling substance abuse treatment with a vast array of specialty therapy options ensures clients are provided with well-rounded, in-depth treatment to improve recovery outcomes.
  • Of these 11 whippits facts, this one is especially important to share with anyone you suspect may be abusing nitrous oxide.
  • Nitrous oxide is safe in a medical environment because medical professionals ensure that the patient is getting plenty of oxygen.
  • Those reasons explain why huffing and other forms of inhalant use are uncommon with nitrous oxide.

The body may also eliminate substances through sweat, urine, and breath. To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Treatment X LLC, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

What Happens When People Inhale Nitrous Oxide?

Like with any substance, repeated use and increased tolerance can lead to the development of a substance use disorder. Substances like nitrous oxide become addictive because people can become dependent on the psychological effects of the drug. Rather than a physical craving needing to be fulfilled, psychological dependencies are an addiction to achieving a particular mental feeling. In many cases, this can be attributed to another underlying cause or motivation. In case you’re confused, whippits, whippets, and whip-its all refer to nitrous oxide being used as a recreational drug. Whippits are a type of inhalant, which, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is an inhaled drug that is easily accessible and common in the home.

Whippits, also known as whippets or whip-its, are nitrous oxide dispensers commonly used in whipped cream dispensers. Nitrous oxide, sometimes referred to by slang terms ‘laughing gas’ or ‘hippy crack’, is used as an anesthetic for some procedures such as small dental work. It is a legal and readily available substance, making it an increasingly popular recreational drug.

Teens often do not realize the dangers of recreational xtc drug use. Moreover, because whippits are so easy to acquire and they’re legal, teens feel comfortable using them heavily. While it can be difficult to obtain illegal substances, whippits are available at the grocery store, making them a popular choice for teenagers searching for a way to get high. 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.

Coupling substance abuse treatment with a vast array of specialty therapy options ensures clients are provided with well-rounded, in-depth treatment to improve recovery outcomes. Treatment is a collaborative effort in which clients are empowered to take control of their recovery by building a robust foundation for life-long sobriety. Although everyone has different needs in treatment, many people have found behavioral therapies to be beneficial. One of the most effective forms of treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy.