A Deadly Drug: Whippit Use Widespread; DePaul professor calls for laws to restrict access

Teenagers and young adults in the United States are risking death to get high as recreational use of nitrous oxide – commonly known as whipits – is “rapidly increasing”, according to US doctors. Yale School of Medicine.

Although nitrous oxide is officially used as an oral and surgical anesthetic, as well as an ingredient in whipped foods, Whippit users inhale it from canisters to create a ““short-lived” feeling of “relaxation”.said Yale experts. While whippits, also called “hippie crack,” were used for centuriesThree main factors are responsible for their recent surge in popularity: their current virality on internet platforms, their widespread accessibility, and their new marketing that appeals to young consumers.

“People get the feeling that if more people do it, it shouldn't be that bad … when in fact it is,” said Geoffrey Durso, an assistant professor of marketing at DePaul.

Experts are concerned about the increasing use of whippets due to the extreme health risks involved. While overdoses can be fatal for users, non-fatal incidents can also lead to brain and nerve damage, among other complications, the study said Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

“I think it's so dangerous on social media because you get the impression that things that are legal are safe,” said Austin Lim, a professor of neuroscience at DePaul.

In the last few months Content from “influencers, celebrities and teenagers” using Whipits has been trending on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Videos of people inhaling Whipits on the app show an immediate change in users' behavior, producing euphoria, numbness, sedation and dizziness, according to ADF.

Durso said this type of content creates “a sense of trust” that can lead young consumers to make poor decisions about consuming the substance – a risk that has led to TikTok removing any videos or searches related to Whippets ban.

“It’s just harder to read academic articles than it is to watch TikToks,” Durso said.

In promoting the use of whippets, he said content creators often fail to acknowledge the many dangers of their use. Long-term, regular use can cause memory loss, brain and nerve damage, loss of muscle control and reproductive system disorders, while a sudden overdose can lead to a drop in blood pressure, fainting, heart attack and death, according to ADF.

“I don't think (young people) have the capacity or the scale to imagine the risks compared to the short-term benefits or the pleasure the drug gives them,” Lim said.

Unlike other potentially deadly drugs, the Drug Enforcement Administration does not classify nitrous oxide as a controlled substance, meaning it is legal to sell and use for its “intended purpose,” according to a report in USA today. This classification allows nitrous companies to market and sell the substance as a food and beverage ingredient in stores and online. And because there are no age restrictions for purchase in any state except New York, the substance is widely available to young consumers for illegal recreational use, the report said.

“If it was actually going to be marketed as food, it would be in a gray stainless steel tube with no colors,” Lim said. “But it comes in different flavors. Why do you need strawberry nitrous oxide? Companies want to address young people as a target group.”

Last week on the social media app X, singer SZA questioned publicly The intent of nitrous oxide branding companies is to promote and package their products, and they claim that the substance is being “mass-marketed” to young consumers. For example the company Galaxy gas offers many flavors of nitrous oxide (e.g. “Mango Smoothie” and “Vanilla Cupcake”) and uses different neon colors and prints on the packaging for each.

“These (flavors) are all targeted on purpose. It’s designed to make people feel like it’s fun and hide potential health concerns,” Durso said.

On Galaxy Gas's website, users are shown an automatic pop-up warning stating that the products are “for culinary use only” and that misuse is “unlawful.” In a statement to The DePaulia, the company also added that its owners ““Deeply concerned by recent news reports and social media posts from individuals illegally misusing (their) products.”

Given the potentially deadly consequences of whippit use, Lim said initiatives to disseminate information about the substance's risks must keep pace with the pace of its rising popularity.

“The fact that this product is becoming so popular so quickly doesn't give any of these slow institutions like the government or NIDA (the National Institute of Drug Abuse) the chance to really do anything about health messages,” Lim said. “People are aware So they are not fully aware of the risks because they are not informed about them from the start.”

Durso said he hopes whippets' nationwide popularity and extreme risks will motivate lawmakers across the country to enact stricter laws regulating the substance.

“If there are no (age) restrictions now and the consequences continue to be reported, that sounds like something that could lead to bipartisan legislation,” Durso said. “There needs to be more guardrails and there needs to be regulation.”

Related stories:

Stay up to date with The DePaulia's top stories.
delivered to your inbox every Monday.