What Are Whippets
Whippets are small, pressurized cartridges containing nitrous oxide (N2O), a colorless, non-flammable gas. While commonly sold for whipped cream dispensers, they are frequently diverted for recreational inhalation. Users typically discharge the gas into balloons or directly into their mouths from a cracker device, then inhale it. Inhaling nitrous oxide produces a rapid, short-lived euphoric effect, often accompanied by lightheadedness or dissociation.
The gas quickly enters the bloodstream through the lungs, affecting the central nervous system. The effects usually last only a few minutes, leading some users to inhale repeatedly. This rapid onset and offset contributes to its appeal for recreational use.
Detecting Whippets in Drug Tests
Standard drug tests, such as those screening urine, blood, hair, or saliva, are not designed to detect nitrous oxide. Common drug panels, including 5-panel or 10-panel tests, primarily target substances like cannabinoids, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. Nitrous oxide is not included in routine screenings due to its rapid elimination from the body.
While specialized laboratory tests could theoretically detect nitrous oxide, they are not routinely performed. Such tests would require specific analytical methods, like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Given the gas’s rapid metabolism and excretion, even specialized tests would likely need to be conducted very soon after use to yield a positive result. Therefore, whippets remain undetectable in most practical drug testing scenarios.
Why Detection is Challenging
The difficulty in detecting whippets through drug tests stems from nitrous oxide’s pharmacokinetic properties. Once inhaled, nitrous oxide rapidly diffuses across the alveolar-capillary membrane in the lungs and enters the bloodstream. It quickly distributes throughout the body’s tissues, then rapidly exits the body, primarily by being exhaled unchanged through the lungs.
Nitrous oxide has a very short half-life, meaning it is eliminated from the body within minutes after inhalation ceases. Unlike many other recreational substances, nitrous oxide is not significantly metabolized by the liver into detectable byproducts or metabolites that persist in the body for extended periods. This lack of stable, long-lasting metabolites means there is no lingering chemical signature for standard drug tests to identify. Its rapid absorption and equally rapid elimination make it challenging to capture its presence in routine biological samples.
Identifying Whippet Use
Since drug tests are ineffective for detecting whippet use, identification often relies on observing physical signs, behavioral changes, and circumstantial evidence. One common physical indicator is frostbite or cold burns around the lips or nostrils, which can occur from direct contact with the rapidly expanding, cold gas. Users may also exhibit sudden, temporary disorientation, dizziness, or slurred speech immediately following inhalation.
Observing paraphernalia can also provide strong clues. Discarded small silver or gold canisters, often labeled “N2O” or “nitrous oxide,” are a direct indicator of whippet use. Empty balloons, which users inflate with the gas before inhaling, are another common piece of evidence. Additionally, a faint, sweet odor similar to a dental office might be noticeable where the gas has been used.