Insights on Whippits and Laughing Gas Essentials
Partying With Laughing Gas? Think Again!
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, might seem like harmless fun when you watch TikTok videos of people collapsing after inhaling Galaxy GasTM. But don't be fooled - these videos are the tip of the iceberg.
The misuse of nitrous oxide - aka whippets, whip-its, and now Galaxy Gas - has become a popular party drug, posing significant risks to your health. Dr. Bryan Baskin, an emergency physician, sheds light on the dangers of whippets and what you need to know.
What's the deal with whippets?
Whippets are an inhalant drug widely used by teens and young adults. They're even fed into the latest trend – Galaxy Gas. These whipped cream chargers have been turning up everywhere, creating a generation nodding off or contorting their muscles uncontrollably.
The term "whippets" originated from whipped cream canisters wherein little nitrous oxide cartridges nestle inside. Inhaling the gas straight from the cartridges or filling a balloon or bag is common practice.
When inhaled, nitrous oxide provides a brief high, characterized by feelings of dizziness, relaxation, and loss of coordination. Despite the transient euphoria, the consequences can be severe, particularly with repeated use.
Governments have already cracked down on the sale of nitrous oxide canisters to minors in an attempt to combat inhalant abuse, but whippets still remain fairly accessible.
Are whippets harmful?
Similar to abusing other household chemicals, whippet use can have devastating effects on your health. Inhaling or ingesting substances not intended for body use is never a smart idea.
Short-term Side Effects
Impaired judgment and motor skills can lead to accidents and injuries. Moreover, recreational whippets use has been associated with hallucinations, paranoia, and psychiatric symptoms that can result in harm not only to yourself but to others around you.
Furthermore, short-term effects can include:
- Dizziness
- Fainting or passing out
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Irritability or emotional dysregulation
Long-term Effects of Whippets
Prolonged abuse of inhalants, such as whippets, can cause severe damage, primarily to the nervous system, muscles, kidneys, and liver.
Nervous System and Muscle Atrophy
Research points to whippets having the potential to induce severe vitamin B12 deficiencies. Chronic abuse can impair your body's ability to process vitamin B12, which can lead to severe changes in the nervous system and extreme muscle weakness. In the most severe cases, patients may require hospitalization and can permanently lose muscle function.
Organ Damage
The long-term use of whippets can severely decrease the oxygen available in your blood, leading to kidney disease and liver damage. Your kidneys and liver are "end organs," meaning they are the last in line to receive oxygen. When exposed to repeated doses, these organs can suffer extensive damage.
Are whippets addictive?
Whippets and Galaxy Gas may not be physically addictive like other non-prescription drugs, such as cocaine or heroin. Nonetheless, they can have a strong psychological hold.
Dr. Baskin states, "In young people's minds, it's easy to believe that 'If a little bit is good, more must be better.' So, it's easy to see how people can continue to chase that high, disregarding potential dangers."
Can you overdose on whippets?
While the high from whippets is short-lived, lasting a few seconds or minutes, repeated use over a short period can be dangerous. Chasing that high can lead to oxygen deprivation, potentially resulting in asphyxiation (suffocation) in rare cases.
Keep the Conversation Open About Whippets
As with other inhalant drugs, whippets can be easy for young people to obtain and abuse. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to be aware of whippets, Galaxy Gas, and other household items that can be used improperly and cause significant harm.
"Whippets are just one more danger parents should be aware of, particularly because they are readily accessible and, consequently, easy for teenagers to experiment with – especially if they don't understand the severe long-term effects," says Dr. Baskin.
- Despite the temporary euphoria provided by whippets, repeated use can have severe consequences on mental health, leading to hallucinations, paranoia, and psychiatric symptoms.
- Prolonged abuse of whippets can cause damage to various organs, including the nervous system, muscles, kidneys, and liver, due to the lack of oxygen in the blood.
- It's essential to educate ourselves and others about the dangers of whippets, paying particular attention to its psychological hold and the risk of oxygen deprivation when chasing repeated highs, which can potentially lead to asphyxiation.
