California Man Arrested for Huffing while Driving; Reveals Drug Stockpile

Via http://lostcoastoutpost.com

On Wednesday November 4, 2015, a man in Garberville, California was arrested after responding to a report that several individuals were huffing an inhalant know as whip-its. When they initially approached the group scattered. However, the authorities later perused one of the individuals by car after he tried to flee the scene.

After taking him into custody, the police found several hundred whip-it containers in the 34 year old man’s car. Furthermore they found dozens of containers of concentrated cannabis. Ultimately he was arrested and brought to Humboldt County Correctional Facility. The suspect was then charged with possession for sales / transportation of concentrated cannabis, driving on a suspended driver’s license, and violation of probation. His bail is set at $25,000.

California Man Sues Shop After Inhalant Related Injury

Via the Sacramento Bee in California:


A 35 year old California man is suing three stores where he purchased “Whip-Its” after suffering an injury from abusing the product.

On Halloween night 2010 the man, a schoolteacher and law student, had returned home after purchasing the nitrous oxide canisters commonly known as “Whip-Its” when he lost feeling “from the rib cage down.” His wife took him to the hospital where doctors determined he had suffered a “degeneration of his spinal cord related to his abuse of nitrous oxide.” He was held in the hospital for two weeks and he still uses a walker to get around.

His attorney remarked that “nitrous oxide depletes vitamin B-12 from the blood, which can lead to spinal cord problems.” She also noted the man had visited the head shop and was looking around when the salesperson made a suggestion. "They didn't demonstrate inhaling it. They just demonstrated how to open the charger, with a cracker (a tool that releases the gas), and let the gas out into the balloon, to encourage him to buy the setup."

The man took them home and “"liked the effects” so he used them regularly over the next two months leading up to the October 31st 2010 incident.

The lawsuit was filed on June 25th under the Business and Profession Code provisions against mislabeled products. The stores claim the man’s injuries are a result of his own negligence and he misused the product and assumed his own risk.

The article points out that in “California, no laws prohibit possession of nitrous oxide, but statutes ban its sale to minors.” It also notes that “the New York state attorney general's office appears to be making the most aggressive effort in the country targeting retailers who sell nitrous oxide, filing a lawsuit last summer that obtained preliminary injunctions halting sales in more than a dozen stores.”

It also points out that “Whip-Its” are called America’s "most popular recreational inhalant of choice," with more than 12 million people having used the product to obtain a nitrous oxide high. Their popularity, the suit says, is a byproduct of their accessibility in head shops.”

Authorities Find "Whip Its" in Routine Traffic Stop

In a routine traffic stop, authorities found an 18-year-old driver and three underage teens in possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphenalia. All were arrested and charged with marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, and distribution of marijuana.

"Whip its" (cans of nitrous oxide) were also found.

Via dailyrecord.com in Parsipanny, NJ

"Whip-Its" Lead to Man's Reckless Endangerment Charge

A man was found huffing "whip its" after driving erratically.

The 28-year-old struck a guard rail and nearly two vehicles before being stopped by a police officer.

Once found the officer found cream-whippers and a nitrous oxide canister that was "cool to the touch", a sign that it had just been used.

The man was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, driver's view obstructed, failure to keep right and reckless driving.

Via registerstar.com in Hudson, NY

Girl Suspected to Have Died from Huffing Whip-Its at Rave Days Before Graduation

Via myfoxphoneix.com Phoenix, AZ

An 18-year-old girl died at a rave party just days before graduation.

The 18-year-old was a standout student known for her involvement and academic achievement in her school.

Saturday, the girl left with friends for a rave where she collapsed and was still breathing when paramedics arrived. She later died at the hospital for what police suspect, of a death by inhaling nitrous oxide.

The girl's sister accepted her diploma in her place at the graduation ceremony.

Iowa Man Arrested After Huffing

Courtesy of the Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa City, IA

A 19 year old Iowa man was arrested for huffing, drinking and driving.

Police responded to a complaint from a local retailer that a man was huffing from an aerosol whipped cream can in the parking lot. When they arrived, they followed the man's car out of the lot and stopped him for having a headlight out.

When the officers spoke to the man, they noted that he appeared to be intoxicated. The 19 year old failed the field sobriety test, and on a preliminary alcohol breath test, he showed a level of .218.

He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

Driver Huffs and Leads Police on Chase

Courtesy of News Channel 8
Portland, OR

Portland Police say they have a 45 year old Vancouver woman in custody who was huffing nitrous oxide while leading them on a chase.

Oregon State Police said they had observed a woman huffing from a whip cream dispenser while driving down the interstate just after 12:00PM Friday.

The trooper tried to stop the woman who then fled at speeds between 60-80mph.

Portland Police eventually stopped the woman and arrested her for DUI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and eluding police.

18 Year Old Woman Charged With Child Abuse After Supplying Inhalants

Courtesy of the Star-Herald
Scotts Bluff, NE

An 18 year old woman has been charged with two counts of child abuse, as well as two counts of aiding and abetting inhaling an intoxicant, after supplying inhalants to kids during an after school program.

Earlier this month the district's superintendent confirmed that employees had been fired in connection with the incident. According to reports the employees had been inhaling dust remover and the gas from a can of whipped cream and reportedly had helped two of the children inhale the products.

She is set to appear in court on April 8.

Tennessee shop Closed for selling whip-its

Courtesy of My Fox Memphis
Memphis, TN

Authorities in Memphis closed down Tokens, a local shop near the University of Memphis. After receiving repeated complaints from local citizens and nearby businesses regarding the business's conduct and clientele, the DA filed a Public Nuisance claim against the owner.

The report states that on 11 separate occasions detectives from the organized crime bureau purchased nitrous oxide inhalants and whip-it related tools at the store.

The report states that the employees knew what they were selling as well as the intended use of the products, which violates Tennessee law.

Michigan Keeping an Eye Out for Inhalant Abuse

From Petoskey News-Review in Michigan:

The Petoskey Community is encouraging its residents to key an eye out for any signs of inhalant abuse.

Prison Sentence for Huffing Related Crash

From the Oregonian in Portland, Oregon:

A 23 year-old woman was recently sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for an inhalant-related car crash in August that killed a 16 year-old girl. The girl had been a passenger in her car.

The woman is a mother of two children under the age of 3 and she admitted to huffing nitrous oxide while driving. She then “blacked out and crashed into a tree about 12 feet off the roadway.” A third passenger suffered a broken leg while the fourth sustained internal injuries.

The woman was sentenced to “more than six years in prison for manslaughter and 13-month sentences for each of two assault charges. Her one year sentence for driving under the influence will be served at the same time she is serving her other sentences.”

Seattle TV Station Investigates Nitrous Kits

From KIROtv.com in Seattle, Washington

The TV station investigative team noticed “cases of nitrous canisters” (typically used in homemade whipped cream makers) “popping up for sale in places that weren't exactly kitchen supply stores.”

Knowing that the product is often used as an inhalant, they sent 16 year olds into stores with a hidden camera. “We wanted to see if clerks would sell them what’s known as a nitrous kit. It consists of "whip-its" or whipped creamers, a cracker and balloons.” Their investigation revealed that several shops did indeed sell the kit to minors.

The article notes, “The cracker's only purpose is to help a huffer get the nitrous gas out of the container and into their lungs without getting frostbite” yet it “is not on Washington's drug paraphernalia list and for now, is legal to possess and sell.” The piece also noted that “nitrous oxide is not listed in Washington as a controlled substance." Police indicate they wanted to see this "loophole" closed.