What Is Nitrous Oxide? 

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, nitro, NOS, or whippets, is a colorless gas that has been used by dentists and medical professionals to sedate patients for over 150 years. However, it’s increasingly being used to create a dissociative high. 

How Does Nitrous Oxide Affect the Body? 

Let’s delve into some important drug information about nitrous oxide and how it works. The drug affects the body by stimulating the neuronal release of endogenous opioid peptides or dynorphins. In other words, nitrous oxide interferes with how your nerves speak to each other. It stops pain receptors from talking to your brain, which is how it stops you from feeling pain. 

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Nitrous Oxide? 

The most obvious result of nitrous oxide is giddiness, euphoria, and sometimes uncontrolled laughter, but it affects your body in more ways. This includes: 

• Blurred vision
• Irritation in the eyes, nose, and/or throat
• Wheezing or worsening cough
• Confusion
• Sweating
• Lethargy
• Uncoordinated movements
• Seizures

However, larger amounts of nitrous oxide can lead to: 

• Loss or rapid change in blood pressure
• Fainting
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Death 

In most cases, these short-term side effects will lessen as nitrous oxide leaves the body.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Nitrous Oxide? 

Prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide can cause lasting damage to your body because it continually disrupts your body’s normal neurological processes. Unlike the short-term effects, these repercussions may stay with an addict even after they gain sobriety. 

• Memory loss
• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in ears)
• Incontinence
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Birth defects 
• Limb spasms
• Depression
• Psychosis 

Consuming nitrous oxide is also risky because of how it is stored. The gas is usually stored at freezing temperatures (-40C). Consuming nitrous oxide directly can cause frostbite to the hands, nose, lips, throat, and vocal cords. Because high-pressure canisters store the gas, it’s also possible to rupture lung tissues. 

Is it Possible to Overdose on Nitrous Oxide? 

Yes. While nitrous oxide is safe when administered by a medical professional, it is possible to overdose on nitrous oxide. 

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Nitrous Oxide? 

A recovering addict may experience typical withdrawal symptoms when quitting nitrous oxide. This will include symptoms similar to recovering from alcoholism or other drug addictions. Symptoms may include: 

• Cravings
• Extreme mood swings such as irritability and depression
• Excessive sweating
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting and nausea

What Are Treatment Options for Addiction to Nitrous Oxide? 

While it is possible to achieve sobriety and recovery alone, most people achieve better results when a trained medical professional leads the recovery process. Just like you wouldn’t stitch up a stab wound in your chest by yourself, you shouldn’t try to treat your addiction alone. 

To help with your treatment, it’s important to be honest about your mental and physical health. The more honest you are about your past, including what you’ve used and how often you’ve used it, the better counselors and therapists will be able to help. 

Treatment typically starts with a period of detox and sobriety, which then leads to a clean enough mind and body that behavior therapy, counseling, and other proven treatments can be used. 

Pinnacle Treatment Centers Can Help

If you or a loved one suffers from addiction or addictive behaviors, Pinnacle Treatment Centers can help. We focus on residential treatment for substance abuse to give you the space you need to change your life. Contact us today to find out more about our programs. 

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Though dissociative drug abuse rates are relatively low in the United States, it was still a problem for about 33,000 Americans as of 2013. Our country also has the highest percentage of high school students who have experimented with hallucinogens.

So what are dissociative drugs, and how do they affect the body and mind? Check out our guide to learn more about dissociative drugs and the implications of drug abuse.

What Are Dissociative Drugs?

Dissociative drugs are a type of hallucinogen that causes the user to feel detached from their surroundings and sensory experiences. Users may have a distorted sense of time, color, sound, motion, or sense of self. Some dissociative drugs have FDA-approved medical uses, but they are also illegally used for recreational and social purposes.

As of 2012, more than 32,000 Americans over the age of 11 reported current usage of PCP. These users may take the drug for a wide range of social or recreational reasons, such as stress relief, personal enjoyment, or out of curiosity.

Dissociative drugs like PCP can cause a strong dependency, and extended use can cause severe long-term effects and influence the user to behave in strange and dangerous ways.

How Do Dissociative Drugs Work?

Scientists do not understand all of the mechanics of dissociative drugs and their effects. However, research has shown that these drugs may interrupt the messages firing from the brain and spinal cord that manage:

• Mood
• Senses
• Body temperature
• And more

Types of Dissociative Drugs

Let’s look at the common types of dissociative drugs that are abused on the streets today. Drugs like ketamine and DXM have legitimate medical uses, but are also abused and illegally bought and sold on the streets.

The most popular dissociative drugs include PCP and ketamine, among others.

Phencyclidine (PCP)

This highly addictive drug can be consumed by taking a pill, snorting a powder, or smoking it with marijuana or nicotine. In comparison to other dissociative drugs, PCP is considered one of the most unpredictable, since it can cause severe side effects when taken in high doses. PCP is known to cause cravings and dependency, with users constantly using and looking for the drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Ketamine

Ketamine is an FDA-approved drug that is used in medical settings for anesthesia, sedation, and treatment of depression. However, the drug is also abused on the streets and commonly consumed through snorting or smoking. The side effects of ketamine are similar to those of PCP, but they tend to be milder and last for a shorter duration. Higher doses of ketamine can produce more intense effects.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is commonly found in extra-strength cough medicines that can be purchased over the counter. This drug is safe for use in small doses, when used as recommended on the medication packaging or label. However, the drug is also popular for illegal, nonmedical use—especially among teenagers, who have easier access to this drug than other dissociative drugs. DXM can produce similar effects to PCP and ketamine when taken in a high dosage.

Salvia Divinorum

Salvia divinorum is a naturally-occurring plant that is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. Users of salvia divinorum typically chew the leaves or drink salvia tea, but the leaves can also be dried and smoked. This plant has psychoactive properties and is also referred to as magic mint or Sally-D.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is medically used as an anesthetic. It is known to produce short-term effects such as mind/body detachment (a floating sensation), hallucinations, or distortion of senses.

Street Names for Dissociative Drugs

Drugs like PCP, ketamine, and DXM are often referred to by their nicknames in street culture. Here are some of the most popular street names for dissociative drugs today:

• Robo (DXM)
• Lean (DXM)
• Dank (DXM)
• Special K (ketamine)
• K (ketamine)
• Angel Dust (PCP)
• Rocket Fuel (PCP)
• Supergrass (PCP)
• Embalming Fluid (PCP)
• Nangs (Nitrous oxide)

Short-Term Effects of Dissociative Drugs

The short-term effects of dissociative drugs are numerous, lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days. Specific effects may vary depending on the person taking them, the type of dissociative drug being used, and the dosage. Higher doses of the drug usually come with more intense short-term effects.

Here are just a few of the short-term effects a person may feel when taking a low dose of dissociative drugs:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Numbness
• Confusion or lack of coordination
• High blood pressure or heart rate
• Increased respiration or body temperature
• Hallucinations
• Changes to sight, hearing, and other senses

Higher doses of dissociative drugs may result in short-term effects such as:

• Loss of memory
• Extremely high blood pressure or heart rate
• Dangerously high respiration or temperature
• Hallucinations
• Intense anxiety, panic, paranoia, or other psychological issues
• Respiratory arrest or death (especially when consumed with alcohol)

In some cases, taking these drugs can also cause seizures, muscle contractions, extreme aggressive or violent behavior, or psychosis. Those who take ketamine in high doses can be at risk for amnesia and a complete loss of their senses, which may feel like a near-death experience.

Long-Term Effects of Dissociative Drugs

Researchers must conduct further studies to have a greater understanding of the long-term effects of dissociative drugs. Still, some studies suggest that frequent and prolonged use of drugs like PCP can cause the user to develop a high tolerance for the drug.

If the person tries to stop using the drug at this point, it could lead to withdrawal symptoms like cravings and headaches. Other potential long-term effects of PCP include depression, anxiety, loss of memory, and difficulty with speech.

Find Effective Addiction Treatment Today

Do you or a loved one need help recovering from a dissociative drug addiction? If so, Pinnacle Treatment Centers is ready to offer support. Our experienced team provides much-needed empathy and helpful resources to combat all types of addictions.

From outpatient and residential care to medication-assisted methods, we have a wide range of treatments to meet the unique needs of every patient. Contact us today to learn more about our proven drug recovery methods.

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