Many people may be shocked to learn of whipped cream and nitrous oxide’s connection to drug culture. These two things seem harmless and benign to most people. However, there’s a dark underbelly in the drug culture that has found ways of abusing nitrous oxide, sometimes called whippets. What are whippets drug effects, risks, as well as drug addiction treatment options?

The Danger of Inhalants: Whippets Drug Effects

Nitrous oxide is laughing gas. Dentists and surgeons use it to calm anxious patients. In small quantities, it’s a relaxant that takes the edge off nervousness. Of course, in the food trade, nitrous oxide is a propellant for reusable whipped cream dispensers.

For those using this substance to get high, it provides a sense of relaxation. By continuing use well after they should stop, the inhalant then creates a floating sensation. Users might start laughing uncontrollably. Interestingly nitrous oxide does not act on the brain’s neurotransmitters. That’s typically the case with other substances you might abuse.

In contrast, nitrous oxide is an inhalant that alters the oxygen balance in the brain. In fact, it starves the brain of the oxygen it needs to function. Therefore, seizures are possible whippets drug effects.

But the lack of oxygen doesn’t just affect the brain. It also affects other organ systems. Heart attacks during whippets abuse aren’t uncommon. Frequent abuse can lead to depression, nerve damage, as well as memory problems.

Undergoing Treatment

Inhaling nitrous oxide can result in chemical dependency. Getting help at a morphine addiction rehab program is a surprisingly good option. Because the substance acts as a pain reliever, this level of care is appropriate. There, you work with therapists who understand the allure of the inhalant.

Possible care approaches initially focus on your treatment delivery needs. Examples include:

• Partial hospitalization that gives you a full-time opportunity to undergo treatment
• Extended care, which increases treatment from a customary 30 days to 90 days
• Intensive outpatient treatment as an entry point for people with a moderate substance abuse problem
• Standard outpatient care, which is typically a step-down option
• Aftercare as a method for protecting your early sobriety and preventing relapse

The Danger of Polydrug Abuse

Many users of inhalants don’t limit their substance abuse to nitrous oxide only. They often combine the high with other substances. Examples include LSD and salvia.

Because inhalants are frequently social drugs, users might take whatever else someone offers them. This can result in significant risks of bodily injury. Besides that, there’s the danger of developing psychological problems. Accidental self-harm’s possible, too.

Don’t Wait to Get Help

Each time you abuse the gas, you put yourself at risk. Because the high is so short, you keep using repeatedly. The seizure risk builds up with each use. Persistent oxygen deprivation can lead to lasting brain and organ damage.

Most people think that the gas is harmless. They don’t realize that someone with a predisposition to addiction could develop a chemical dependency. It’s not something that people talk about on the street. Besides, you want to fit in, so you don’t ask questions.

Don’t be embarrassed. Bayview Recovery routinely works with good people like you who fell into the trap of Whippets drug effects. Therapists can help you deal with the situation. Call 855.478.3650 today to schedule an appointment with a caring intake counselor.