Whippets, Noz, Hippy Crack, Laughing Gas – it doesn’t matter what you call it, abusing nitrous oxide (N2O) is dangerous. It can lead to brain damage, stroke, heart attack, coma and death.

Nitrous Whip abuse is not as well understood as other drugs. The abuse of whippits and other inhalants deprives the brain and body of oxygen, resulting in a high that lasts only seconds or minutes. These short-lived effects can encourage users to inhale multiple whippits in a row, bombarding the brain and body with more and more N2O and further depriving it of oxygen.

Nitrous oxide is used in the dentist’s office as an anesthesia for pain. However, when abused, it has been known to cause a range of problems from seizures and comas to permanent brain damage and irreversible nerve damage. It also has been associated with accidental deaths.

Unleashing Creativity with NitrousWhip: Fun and Innovative Culinary Applications

The problem of nitrous oxide is not new to communities, but the scale and pace of its spread across the country have made it an epidemic. People in Southwest Detroit, for example, are finding metal cylinders with a foil-covered end at gas stations and in their garages. These cartridges are known as whipped cream chargers and contain nitrous oxide for the commercial whipped cream dispensers.

The cylinders have a narrow opening that must be punctured to release the gas. They are sold in packs of 100 for under $20 at some shops posing as auto supply stores. When police bust these illegal shops, they find large tanks of N2O worth millions. Educating the community is key to stopping this epidemic. Flyers explaining not only the cylinders but also the paraphernalia that accompanies this drug can be helpful in mobilizing communities to take action.