‘Hippy crack’ refers to the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N20), a sedative drug commonly used in medical and dental settings. This form of substance abuse is widespread among young teenagers and adults for its hallucinogenic and relaxing effects. Recreational nitrous oxide is raising significant concerns for an addiction epidemic as a result of its ease of use and accessibility.
What is ‘Hippy Crack’ (Nitrous Oxide)?
The abuse of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or ‘hippy crack,’ is raising concerns for a potential new addiction epidemic. ‘Hippy crack,’ ‘whippits,’ ‘whippets,’ and ‘laughing gas’ are a few of the street terms used for nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a sedative drug traditionally used for medical procedures and anesthesia. Recreational nitrous oxide, however, is continuing to escalate, specifically among young adults, posing a more significant health risk than cocaine.
Users inhale laughing gas from small canisters, often through balloons, to produce a brief but intense high. The effects of hippy crack usually provide feelings of euphoria, lightheadedness, and auditory or visual distortions. The recreational use of nitrous oxide is relatively inexpensive and easily accessible, making it a popular choice for high schoolers and college students. Due to its accessibility, laughing gas is prevalent at college parties, music festivals, and social gatherings.
The misconception that nitrous oxide is a ‘harmless high’ has led many young individuals to the misuse and abuse of laughing gas. The combination of lack of knowledge, consumption patterns, and risky behaviors heightens the risk of whippet use. Unlike harder drugs like cocaine or fentanyl, hippie crack doesn’t carry the legal risks or stigma associated with those drugs. The hallucinogenic effects of recreational nitrous oxide are short-lived, making it a desirable drug to use.
The Health Risks of Nitrous Oxide Abuse
Nitrous oxide is a colorless and odorless gas traditionally used for its anesthetic and analgesic properties in medical settings. Recreational use of nitrous oxide (N20) can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening health risks, including low oxygen (hypoxia), low blood pressure (hypotension), fainting, nerve damage, and heart attack. Long-term health complications associated with hippy crack include depression, psychosis, memory loss, muscle spasms, weak immune system, and congenital disabilities.
Nitrous oxide depletes vitamin B12 levels, leading to numbness, nerve damage, memory loss, and poor coordination. Inhaling nitrous oxide in a small and confined space without adequate oxygen delivery can result in oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), which can lead to death. While not considered an addictive substance, regular use of laughing gas can result in psychological dependence. To achieve the same effects, whippet users may seek out nitrous oxide more frequently and in higher doses.
Addressing The New Epidemic of Hippy Crack and Party Drugs
Nearly 1 million young adults abuse inhalants like nitrous oxide every year. Heavy inhalant abuse, such as inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons or canisters, can result in hypoxia, cardiac arrhythmias, metabolic acidosis, and neurologic deficits. Party drugs and club drugs are continuing to circulate and become normalized among teenagers, college students, and young adults. This normalization is resulting in riskier nitrous oxide use, dangerous side effects, polysubstance use, and severe health risks.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide exhausts vitamin B12 levels in the body and, with recreational use, can result in clinically adverse side effects and outcomes. Vitamin B12 deficiencies from nitrous oxide or ‘hippy crack’ can result in myelopathy, paresthesia, psychosis, peripheral neuropathy, and subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.
In medical settings, nitrous oxide is deemed safe, but when abused and used recreationally, it can be life-threatening. Nitrous oxide-induced vitamin B12 deficiency can severely damage the neurologic system, including neurotoxicity and oxidative stress.
The Role of Social Media in Spreading the Trend
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have played a significant role in the rise of hippy crack. With images and videos of young people using nitrous oxide at festivals and parties circulating online, its use is being glamorized and seen as harmless.
As the normalization of hippy crack and other party drugs continues to spread, more young individuals are put at risk of dangerous side effects and consequences. The combination of a lack of education surrounding nitrous oxide and other club drugs and peer pressure, hippy crack can result in life-threatening health risks.
Legal Status and Regulation of Nitrous Oxide
In the US and UK, nitrous oxide is classified as a legal substance when used in medical settings. However, the recreational use and sale of nitrous oxide falls into a legal grey area. In the UK, selling nitrous oxide for recreational purposes is illegal, while possession of it remains legal. This loophole makes it challenging to regulate and enforce laws against the misuse of nitrous oxide.
Inhalant Drug Education and Prevention
The lack of education surrounding club drugs and nitrous oxide abuse contributes to the significant risks associated. Many young individuals misusing nitrous oxide are unaware of the severe side effects as a result of social media or peers glamorizing it. While hippy crack may not be viewed as dangerous as other illicit drugs, with chronic use, it can be more life-threatening than cocaine.
The rise of recreational nitrous oxide use is a troubling trend, raising concerns of a new addiction epidemic. Increased public awareness, drug education, and stricter regulation surrounding nitrous oxide misuse are steps toward preventing this harmful drug crisis.
Addiction Treatment and Drug Detox in Stuart, FL
Understanding the severe risks of recreational drug abuse is crucial for preventing the further spread of the drug crisis. Hippy crack, or recreational nitrous oxide, making its way into rave and party culture is particularly concerning for younger generations, who may underestimate its effects.
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References:
- Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2017. No Laughing Matter: Presence, Consumption Trends, Drug Awareness, and Perceptions of “Hippy Crack” (Nitrous Oxide) among Young Adults in England.
- Cleveland Clinic, 2023. Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas).
- Drug Enforcement Administration, 2020. Drug Fact Sheet: Inhalants.
- Cureus, 2020. Nitrous Oxide-Induced Vitamin B12 Deficiency Resulting in Myelopathy.
- Practical Neurology, 2015. Whippits, nitrous oxide and the dangers of legal highs.
- Journal of Neurology, 2021. A rise in cases of nitrous oxide abuse: neurological complications and biological findings.