High on Whip-Its and a Georgia DUI

Whip-Its are a unique way of getting intoxicated, or high, that can have a serious effect on a person's ability to drive safely and lawfully. They are cheap, becoming increasingly popular, and are dangerous both behind the wheel and away from it. When a person drives under the influence of Whip-Its, he or she is at great risk of a Georgia DUI.

If you or someone you care about has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, an experienced DeKalb County DUI attorney can defend your case and protect your constitutional rights.

What are Whip-Its?

Whip-Its are the common name for nitrous oxide which is used as a propellant in many canned whipped cream dispensers. Reusable whipped cream containers can be recharged with small metal containers filled with nitrous oxide, and these are often abused in order to get high.

Other people use the can itself to inhale the nitrous oxide. Doing so can have serious effects on a person's ability to drive (as well as their overall health.)

Other Names for Whip-Its

Whip-Its also commonly go by alternative names or spellings, such as whippits, whippets, laughing gas, and hippie crack.

Medical Uses

Nitrous oxide is commonly used in medical procedures to relieve pain and as an anesthetic in oral surgeries.

When properly administered by a health professional, nitrous oxide is generally safe.

Effects of Whip-Its

Whip-Its do not get a person high the same way other drugs do. While most drugs (e.g. cocaine, heroin, etc.) activate the brain's pleasure centers, the use of Whip-Its deprives the brain of oxygen. This leads to effects such as:

• feelings of euphoria,
• head rushes,
• floating feeling,
• laughter,
• dizziness,
• seizures,
• coma, or
• sudden and unexpected death.

The drug can also cause serious organ damage and can permanently damage the brain.

Effects of Whip-Its on Driving

When a person gets high on Whip-Its and decides to drive, the effects will be numerous, and will likely lead to an arrest and charge of DUI in Georgia. These effects include, but are not limited to:

• inability to stay awake,
• significant distraction,
• disconnectedness from surroundings,
• fainting,
• changes in sensory perception, and
• loss of motor function control.

The practical effect on a person's driving will likely be substantial. A Georgia law enforcement officer is likely to notice a driver intoxicated on Whip-Its.

Defending Your Case

If you were pulled over and arrested for DUI, this does not mean that you are guilty. Do not be tricked by the prosecutor into entering a guilty plea before an experienced attorney can review your case with you for legal defenses such as:

• field sobriety tests were improperly conducted,
• the officer did not have sufficient reason to pull over your car at the initial stop,
• the roadside checkpoint did not meet constitutional requirements, or
• the officer violated the law or your constitutional rights during the arrest.

Consult an Experienced DeKalb County DUI Attorney

Just because you were arrested does not mean you are guilty of a crime. You have the constitutional right to present a legal defense. An experienced DeKalb County DUI attorney can defend your case and protect your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.