Whippets Drug Canned Whipped Cream Nitrous Oxide Inhalant Abuse Effects & Overdose Risks
Whippets called 'whippits', 'whip its', or 'hippy crack' are a manner of abusing & inhaling nitrous oxide. Discover the harmful effects of Whippets drug. Learn the negative serious side effects of inhaling nitrous oxide. Find out how to safely wean off whippets drug.
By We Level Up NJ Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: March 10, 2023
Inhalant Whippets Drug Effects & Risks
The Whippets Drug name is derived from the whipped cream cans users breathe in to get high. Whippets also called whip its or whippet drug abuse, is the inhalation of nitrous oxide found in cans and used by people to get high. Nitrous oxide is misused as a recreational drug, usually by young people, due to its euphoric, calming, and delirious effects. Inhaler abuse often has adverse and risky health effects.
Inhalants like “Whip its” are in a class of drugs that are easily accessible and inexpensive. However, inhalant abuse symptoms can lead to severe consequences. And cause long-term brain, heart, liver, and kidney damage.
The immediate effects of inhalant abuse can last a few minutes to several hours. The highs inhalants produce are short-lived and intense, leaving the user disoriented and confused. Inhalants can also cause euphoria, where the user feels intense pleasure and excitement.
Whippet Drug: Canned Whipped Cream Nitrous Oxide Dangers
Although the effects of Whippets are very concerning, many people are unaware of the dangers they can pose.
A range of adverse side effects accompanies the high that inhalants produce. Inhalant abuse can cause hypoxia, a deficiency of oxygen to the body’s tissues. This can lead to permanent brain damage and damage to other vital organs of the body.
Inhalant abuse can also cause sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSDS), a rare but potentially fatal condition. SSDS can occur when the heart beats abnormally, leading to a sudden heart attack or cardiac arrest.
Moreover, Inhalant abuse can lead to addiction, where the user becomes physically and mentally dependent on the drug. Addiction can cause the user to engage in dangerous behaviors, leading to severe physical, social, and psychological consequences.
If you are using whippets or believe your loved one might be, getting help as soon as possible is crucial. Continued use could lead to severe organ damage or even be fatal.
Whippet Drug Nitrous Oxide Side Effects
Inhaling Whippet drug’s nitrous oxide whipped cream cans causes long-term side effects, including:
- liver,
- kidney,
- bone marrow,
- lung,
- hearing, and
- vision damage.
Moreover, nitrous oxide side effects also influence the brain/nerve, coordination/movement, pregnancy problems, and harm to an unborn baby.
Top Urban Dictionary Whippet Drug Questions
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What is a Whippet Drug?
If you are wondering, what is a whippet drug? The answer is nitrous oxide used as a recreational inhalant is referred to as whippets or whippet drugs, and in current slang, it is also spelled whippits or whip-its. “Whipped cream aerosol” refers to the canisters users breathe in to access the gas that gets them high. Canned whipped cream nitrous oxide gas is a common Whippet drug source for teens.
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Are whippets drugs for sale / Is nitrous oxide for sale?
Whippits drugs are sold nationally, most often in smoke shops and gas stations. Since November 2021, people under 21 have been restricted from buying whipped cream cans. And people over 21 are required to show ID before buying a whippet drug canister. If used for improper purposes and inhaled, the “whippets” or “whippits” gas delivers a euphoric high. While nitrous oxide for sale is restricted to adults, teens are known to find ways around existing prohibition safeguards.
What Are Whippets Drugs?
Whippits drugs, also called “laughing gas” or “hippy crack” is a slang term for nitrous oxide cans used by some people as inhalants to get high. These canisters are used for charging whipped cream dispensers.
Whippet drug inhalant cans have legal status in the United States despite their potential for harm when abused. Although these cans and the gas nitrous oxide are safe, whippets can become addictive when used in excess. Nitrous oxide is an odorless gas famous for its euphoric qualities, like reducing anxiety and producing a brief high. It can be highly addictive when used for these purposes.
In recent years, Detroit was famous for whippet abuse, with authorities uncovering 25,000 steel cartridges in streets and parking lots. However, its recreational use continues to rise throughout the United States, remaining popular with those who attend nightclubs. In addition, some musicians have advertised in their music, concerning those who feel younger people are vulnerable to influence regarding whippet use.
Whippet Drug Overdose Risks
What are whippet drugs overdose causes and treatments?
A whippet drug overdose is possible. Take caution, as Whippets drugs overdoses can be life-threatening. A Whippet drug overdose can occur when inhaling the nitrous oxide used in whipped cream canisters.
While Whippet drug nitrous oxide may seem harmless compared to other drugs, it can be a severe danger, particularly for children. Whippet drug abuse can result in toxic results. As teen inhalant abuse rises, this serves as a warning call for all parents.
During a Whipet drug overdose, a person’s heart becomes strained and stops beating. The person can experience seizures requiring quick medical intervention. First responders can treat the whippet’s overdose by restarting the heart via a defibrillator, chest compressions, and rescue breaths.
Learn more about Whippet drug laughing gas overdose symptoms below: Whippets Drug Overdose.
How Whippets Are Inhaled & Abused?
When a person inhales whippits drug from steel cans, the result is a lack of oxygen, producing lightheadedness. While this may differ from drugs that produce a strong euphoric rush, it still induces an anxiety-reducing sensation that some people enjoy.
Whippets can be abused, leaving lasting effects on the person using them. Depending on their frequency of use and abuse, whippets pose short-term and long-term health effects ranging from memory loss to death from whippets. Whippets are considered inhalants that can take more time to become addicted to when compared to other forms of inhalants. A significant factor in this is how someone who uses it gets high and how nitrous oxide affects the brain.
Unfortunately, nitrous oxide can impact the brain’s function, and the person inhales it goes without oxygen for brief moments. Whippits drug can inhale nitrous oxide directly through the steel cans or use crackers. Devices are used to crack open the canisters and inhale the gas directly.
Inhaling the Whippet drug through balloons may be more convenient for some users because they can get more gas from them rather than using cans. The person would put the balloon in their mouth and inhale the gas for the same effects available in the other methods of whippets drug use. The impacts of whippits drug can vary based on the drugs someone has used, the amount of nitrous oxide they have inhaled if they have combined other drugs with it, and how often they have inhaled nitrous oxide [2].
Whippet Drug Defined
What Are Whippet Drugs? The Whippet drug refers to using nitrous oxide as an inhalant drug to get high. In the United States, inhalant drugs for recreational intent became more common when other harder drugs, like cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth, among others, weren’t easily accessible.
Approximately 12 million people in the USA have tried to get high on Whippet drug inhalants at least once.

It should be noted that Whippets’ canned whipped cream nitrous oxide aerosol side effects can be dangerous and lead to many negative consequences. Abusing the Whippet drug in high doses can seriously degrade coordination, judgment, and muscle control leading to potentially fatal accidents.
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Whippits Drug Abuse Statistics
Some do not consider whippets a hazardous drug. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) [1] has confirmed the Whippet drug as one of the most widely abused inhalants. Whippets are more abused than spray paint, gasoline, and lighter fluid. Additionally, their website states 4.6% of people aged 12 to 17 reportedly misused Whipits, while 5.6% of individuals 26 and older have inhaled Whippets. Lastly, 11.8 million individuals were reported abusing nitrous oxide in 2016.
4.6%
4.6% of people between 12 and 17 are reportedly abusing whippets.
Source: SAMHSA
5.6%
5.6% of those over 26 have used whippets.
Source: SAMHSA
11.8 million
In 2016, it was estimated that 11.8 million people misused nitrous oxide.
Source: SAMHSA
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FREE Addiction Hotline – Call 24/7Warning Signs Of Whippets Drug Use
Individuals may have a whippets drug abuse problem if they frequently act disoriented or develop facial rashes or complaints of sore throats (or a “chilled” feeling in the face or throat) for no apparent cause. They may also change their sleeping habits or develop strange odors on their breath. The discovery of cracked aerosol cans, nitrous oxide canisters you didn’t buy, or deflated balloons with strange smells is a major red flag.
Do not ignore the warning signs and hope they will go away. Once symptoms become apparent, such as memory loss, personality changes, and impaired cognitive ability—an inhalant user may already have suffered lasting damage. Plus, the longer they wait to get help, the harder it is to quit.
The best time to confront the problem is today, with the assistance of therapists and doctors. Be sure to mention that you suspect whippets drug because inhalant abuse is a problem that even many experienced medical professionals remain untrained in recognizing. You may request a referral to a specialist if necessary.
Whippets Drug Overdose
Can you OD on Whippets drugs? Yes, Whippet drug overdose can happen. Although nitrous oxide is generally safe when used medically and appropriately, it can cause an overdose when abused. Whippets overdose occurs when a person inhales too much of it, causing intoxication.
When individuals use whippet drug recreationally, they ignore the importance of oxygen. Usually, when nitrous oxide is administered in a medical setting, patients are given oxygen periodically during the treatment or for a few minutes after. Oxygen mitigates the side effects of whippets and reduces the possibility of whippets.
Why Are Whippets Dangerous?
Whippet drug highs impair decision-making and motor skills, leading to some users falling from balconies or stumbling into oncoming traffic. Others have experienced convulsions, asphyxia, or heart failure. A user who has overdosed may experience hallucinations or fall into a coma. A metal whippet container will occasionally burst devastatingly.
However, most of the harm caused by the Whippet drug builds up slowly and only becomes noticeable after repeated inhalations. Nitrous oxide/Inhalant addiction is known to cause withdrawal symptoms such as heavy sweating, pounding heart, nausea, insomnia, hallucinations, and seizures. However, it is less well understood than many other dependent diseases.

Whippits Drug Dangers FAQs
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Are Whippets Safe?
The long-term effects of abusing whippets are potentially far more damaging and even life-threatening. As well as the detrimental effects caused by oxygen deprivation, whippets can cause nerve damage due to a reduction in vitamin B12.
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How Bad Are Whippets For You?
Are Whippets bad for you? Abusing whippets can lead to many severe and unwanted side effects. You should avoid whippets entirely.
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Do Whippets Cause Brain Damage?
The euphoric effects last only seconds or minutes, yet whippets can lead to long-term consequences. These include irreversible brain and nerve damage, memory loss, heart attack, coma, and death.
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Do Whippits Kill Brain Cells?
Researchers have clarified that the Whippet drug can deprive the heart and brain of much-needed oxygen, known as hypoxia. It’s also common knowledge that the brain can’t function without oxygen; the longer it lacks oxygen, the more damage occurs. So yes, whippets can kill brain cells.
Harmful Whippet Drug Effects
Recreational use of the whippet drug or laughing gas is no laughing matter. Breathing in the nitrous oxide from whipped cream cans is inhalant abuse, sometimes called huffing. While inhaling the nitrous oxide gas from a whipped cream dispenser may not seem all that alarming, there are several harmful effects of the whippets’ drug [3].
Whippets drug effects can include:
- Euphoria
- Asphyxia
- Brain damage
- Lightheadedness
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Damage to peripheral nerves
- Muscle weakness
- Spinal cord disease
- Paralysis, especially in the legs
When the nitrous oxide gas is inhaled, its effects are often immediate. When consumed in excess or with long-term abuse of whippet cans, the nitrous oxide gas side effects become more severe. Muscle weakness may worsen, and frequent users may experience noticeable nerve damage.
Although health problems can arise with repeated use, whippets are also dangerous for first-time users. Laughing gas or nitrous oxide toxicity can lead to asphyxia as the body and brain become deprived of oxygen. The result can be severe health issues such as organ failure, brain damage, and even death [4].
What Causes The Damage From Whippet Drug Abuse?
The amount of oxygen available to the brain and other bodily tissues is lowered when nitrous oxide and other inhalants are used (in reality, their “high” effect depends on the brain’s reduced oxygen flow, which causes dizziness). Nitrous oxide effectively “smothers” the oxygen in the blood by binding to the oxygen atoms there.
Nitrous oxide meant for inhalation (or illegally marketed for recreational use) does not have the same safety precautions as nitrous oxide used in medical treatments and is diluted with extra oxygen. Whippet use can cause oxygen-dependent essential organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, nerves, and/or brain, to become permanently damaged over time.
Many young individuals search for whippets drug urban dictionary definition and information tend to experiment with drugs. But whippits drug is more dangerous for young children and teens. Teenagers whose bodies and minds are still developing (the average human brain stops “growing up” only in its mid-twenties) are especially at risk for oxygen deficiency. A high school student who utilizes whippets is setting himself up for long-term challenges with his physical and mental abilities. Additionally, he is putting himself in a high-risk group for consuming other substances.
Inhalant Abuse Symptoms
Inhalant abuse, or huffing, involves inhaling the fumes from household or industrial products to get high. The symptoms of inhalant abuse can vary depending on the product used, dose, and duration of exposure. Here are some common symptoms of inhalant abuse:
- Dizziness and lightheadedness: Inhaling chemicals can cause a rush of blood to the head, leading to dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Slurred speech: Inhalant abuse can cause difficulty in speaking, leading to slurred speech.
- Hallucinations: Some inhalants can cause hallucinations, leading to the perception of things that are not present.
- Loss of coordination: Inhaling chemicals can cause loss of coordination, leading to stumbling and falling.
- Nausea and vomiting: Inhalant abuse can cause nausea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- Headaches: Inhaling chemicals can cause headaches, which can range from mild to severe.
- Seizures: Prolonged or repeated inhalant abuse can increase the risk of seizures.
- Respiratory problems: Inhalant abuse can cause respiratory problems such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.
- Behavior change: Inhalant abuse can cause changes in personality and behavior, leading to mood swings, irritability, and aggression.

Are Whippets Addictive?
Yes, the Whippet drug is addictive. People who use whippets drugs regularly can become addicted to the euphoria it causes. This is especially so when Whippet drug users are used to other drugs, like cocaine or MDMA. However, you cannot become physically dependent on whippets drugs like alcohol or opioids.
Whippets are psychoactive drugs classified as inhalants, like spray paint, glue, and poppers. People who use whippets inhale nitrous oxide from cans in different ways. Whippits drugs are the most commonly used inhalants in the country, with millions of people using them each year.
6 Most Popular Whippets Drugs FAQs
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What Do Whippets Do?
Whippets work differently. Instead of mimicking or tricking the brain’s reward system, experts believe nitrous oxide cuts off the brain’s oxygen supply and interferes with other pathways. Someone inhaling whippets might laugh uncontrollably, lose limb sensation, and feel happy.
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How Long Does Whippets Stay In Your System?
The elimination half-life of Whippets or nitrous oxide is approximately 5 minutes. It is excreted essentially unchanged (i.e., nonmetabolized) via the lungs; less than 0.004% is metabolized in humans.
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Can You Drug Test For Whippets?
Whippets can be detected in blood or urine shortly after exposure using a unique testing technique, but it is not detectable in the results of routine drug screening panels.
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Can People Consume Whippets Drugs With Balloons?
Filling a balloon with nitrous oxide allows the gas to warm up and gives people some control over how quickly it’s released into the mouth. Those reasons explain why huffing and other forms of inhalant use are uncommon with nitrous oxide.
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Do Whippets Show Up On A Drug Test?
If you are wondering, “do whippets come out in drug test?” or “do whippets show up on drug tests?” the answer is nitrous oxide can be identified in blood or urine soon after exposure with the help of unique test methods. Still, whippets drug is not detectable via standard drug tests.
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What Are Whippets Drug Effects On Humans?
Whippet highs impair decision-making and motor skills, leading to some users falling from balconies or stumbling into oncoming traffic. Others have experienced convulsions, asphyxia, or heart failure. A user who has overdosed may experience hallucinations or fall into a coma.
Inhalant Abuse Prevention
Inhalant abuse is a severe problem that affects many individuals, especially teenagers and young adults. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of inhalant abuse and seek medical help if you suspect someone is abusing inhalants. Education and awareness can help prevent inhalant abuse and save lives.
It is vital to seek medical help if you suspect someone is abusing inhalants, as it can lead to serious health problems and even death.
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Long-Term Effects Of Using Whippets Drug
Doing whippits drugs or abusing nitrous oxide in any other form can cause long-term side effects on a person’s health. Inhaling nitrous oxide causes brain cells to die due to oxygen deprivation, known as hypoxia. Brain damage can be permanent.
Brain damage from nitrous oxide use causes memory loss in some people. Although rare, psychological issues can range from substance-induced psychosis to depression. Other long-term effects of whippets include a buzzing or ringing sound in the ears, incontinence, or disruption to the reproductive system [5]. Congenital disabilities may be possible when a woman uses nitrous oxide during pregnancy.
Prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide may result in the following:
- Memory loss
- Psychosis
- Incontinence
- Limb spasms
- Depression
- Vitamin B12 depletion (long-term depletion causes brain and nerve damage)
- Numbness in the hands or feet
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Potential birth defects (if consumed during pregnancy)
- Weakened immune system
- Disruption of reproductive systems
- Psychological dependence
Mixing Whippits Drug With Other Substances
No current research demonstrates that combining nitrous oxide with other substances increases health risks. However, it is possible that combining nitrous oxide gas with stimulants and other drugs may cause additional pressure on the heart, increase blood pressure, and may disrupt the heart rate.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that combining nitrous oxide with drugs such as marijuana, LSD, ketamine, magic shrooms, and salvia can cause intense dissociation.
Mixing alcohol and nitrous oxide can cause:
- Confusion
- Feeling heavy or sluggish
- Reduced concentration
- Loss of body control
Both alcohol and nitrous oxide depresses the central nervous system (CNS) — slowing your breathing. Thus, it increases the risk of overdosing. Doing whippets and drinking also puts you at risk of having an accident, passing out, choking on vomit, and dying.
Individuals can also harm themselves if they use faulty gas dispensers, which can potentially explode. Dispensing several gas canisters consecutively with one cracker (a handheld device used to ‘crack’ a nitrous oxide bulb/whippet) can also cause cold burns to the hands.
Why Do Teens Abuse Whippits?
Like all inhalant drugs, Whippets are taken by inhaling the fumes in confined, concentrated spaces. Typically, this is done by enclosing the canister and the user’s head in a bag or face mask or transferring the gas to a balloon and inhaling it there. Whippets users typically experience tremendous but fleeting “highs,” making repeated “huffing” common practice.
Many teenagers think it is safe to use nitrous oxide, especially when they contrast it with other common inhalants (such as paint or glue) known to contain hazardous compounds. But the notion that inhalant usage is innocuous is exceedingly dangerous and could result in severe harm or even death.
Whippits Drug On Tiktok
What’s whippet slang on Tiktok and social media? The canisters — nangs, whippets, or bulbs — contain nitrous oxide. Whippits, Whippets, and Whip-Its are the same drugs. They’re typically sold for preparing whipped cream on cakes and other delicious items. But they have another use: nitrous oxide gives a quick high when inhaled.
The internet, mainly social media, is filled with bizarre and questionable content. Still, a recent photo of a drug-filled birthday cake on TikTok has people chatting – but what is Smartwhip? “Smartwhip” is one of the leading providers of pressurized cans in England, Scotland, Wales, Europe, Australia, and the USA. They are whipped cream chargers filled with nitrous oxide. They are mainly used in the kitchen as a whipping agent for whipped cream.
If you’ve been on Tiktok, you will likely have seen that photo of a supposedly Smartwhip-filled birthday cake. The birthday cake has now made the rounds on social media, prompting many to question why the sweet treat contains Smartwhip.
Another video that got temporarily banned from Tiktok shows a trail of hundreds of empty whipped cream cans leading down a corridor and into a bedroom. On the bed, a man reclines with two sets of sunglasses on. He’s holding a whipped cream dispenser with the nozzle in his mouth.
The video was reposted, stayed up for a month, got over one-and-a-half-million views, and then was deleted again.

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Whippits Drug Addiction Can Be Treated
Whippets drug or nitrous oxide addiction treatment is the same as treating other drugs that cause psychological dependency. The treatment also revolves around determining any underlying abuse and whippet addiction causes. During therapy, the client will describe when the whippets’ drug use began and what factors contributed to it. The clinicians and therapist will help the client change thoughts and behaviors associated with the abuse, helping the individual to develop better coping mechanisms that don’t involve substance use.
Drug abuse treatment programs also involve many complementary therapies and treatments. Possible treatment program offerings include specialized therapies, such as music and art therapy, massage therapy, and holistic therapy. Wellness programs that include yoga classes, exercise regimes, and meditation workshops may also be included. Other standards in whippet addiction treatment include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and 12-Step-based programs.
Find The Right Treatment Plan At We Level Up NJ
The key to nitrous oxide addiction treatment is it should be individualized to fit the unique needs of each person in treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone in recovery. A high-quality program will understand this and tailor treatment programs accordingly.
We Level Up NJ provides proper care with round-the-clock medical staff to assist your recovery from whippets drug abuse and addiction through our medically-assisted Detox Program. So, reclaim your life. Call us to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.
10 Surefire Tips to Convince a Whippits Drug user to Get the Help They Deserve
Getting someone to admit they have a whippets drug inhalant problem and to accept help is rarely a smooth and quick process. Here are four tips to help a loved one:
- Approach the situation empathetically and without judgment: Someone struggling with addiction may already feel shame and guilt. Avoid making them feel worse by approaching them with compassion and empathy. Let them know you are there to support and help them.
- Educate yourself on the effects of whippets: Learn as much as you can about the dangers of inhalant abuse, how it affects the body, and the potential long-term effects. This will help you understand the severity of the situation and communicate the risks with the person.
- Offer resources and solutions: Provide the person with resources and options for help. This could include substance abuse treatment facilities, support groups, or therapy. Be willing to help them make appointments or accompany them to a meeting.
- Practice patience and persistence: Overcoming addiction is a long and challenging journey. The person may initially resist, but it’s essential to remain patient and persistent in encouraging them to seek help. Keep reminding them that you care about them and want to see them get better.
- Listen actively: Give the person your full attention and listen without interrupting or judging. Encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings, and let them know you are there for them. Repeat what they said to show you understand and validate their experiences.
- Avoid enabling: Supporting the person without enabling their behavior is essential. This means not giving them access to whippets or other inhalants and not covering up or making excuses for their addiction.
- Set boundaries: While supporting the person, setting boundaries for yourself is also vital. This could include not engaging in discussions or activities related to their addiction or taking a break from the relationship if necessary.
- Take care of yourself: Supporting someone with an addiction can be emotionally draining. Make sure to practice self-care and take breaks as needed. Connect with a support group or therapist to manage your emotions and stress.
- 9. Celebrate progress: Celebrate any progress the person makes, no matter how small. Let them know you are proud of them for taking steps toward recovery. Encouragement and positive reinforcement can go a long way in supporting someone with an addiction.
- Be patient and stay committed: Recovery is a long-term process, and setbacks are common. Stay committed to supporting the person and encourage them to keep fighting, even when difficult.
Remember that small steps can lead to significant changes over time.
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Sources
[1] SAMHSA – https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3095/ShortReport-3095.html#:~:text=Inhalants%20are%20legal%2C%20everyday%20products,potentially%20toxic%20and%20sometimes%20lethal.
[2] DEA – https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Inhalants-2020_1.pdf
[3] CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htm
[4] [5] NIDA – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/inhalants
[5] We Level Up – Inhalant Abuse
[6] Alcohol and Drug Foundation. (2021.) What Is Nitrous Oxide? Retrieved on April 21, 2021 from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/nitrous-oxide/
[7] Candleinc.org. (2020.) Whippet As A Drug: What Parents Need to Know. Retrieved on April 21, 2021 from https://candleinc.org/whippets-drugs/
[8] Whippits, nitrous oxide, and the dangers of legal highs – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4453489/
[9] Arch Academy: “Whippets: Teen Inhalant Abuse Causes Lasting Damage.”
[10] Addiction Group: “Whippets (Nitrous Oxide).”