Whitey (drugs)

A whitey (or white-out) is a drug slang term for when a recreational drug user, as a direct or indirect result of drug use (usually cannabis), begins to feel faint and vomit. The term derives from the "whiteout" weather condition where a snowstorm causes loss of vision, and refers to the way one's skin turns pale during and after a fainting or vomiting episode. While fainting is usually only a problem for those with low blood pressure, it can become possible for those without hypotension to faint after using cannabis or other drugs which have the short-term effect of lowering the blood pressure.

Whiteying is perceived by the stoner subculture as the result of using too much cannabis within too short a period of time. This is known as greening out. In fact the factors that usually facilitate fainting are tiredness, lack of fluids, and food, a hot and humid environment, as well as natural hypotension. They are just as important as the amount of cannabis involved. Moreover, of note is that a frequent occurrence of these symptoms is likewise preceded by the consumption of cannabis or hashish mixed with tobacco and that the initial symptoms of nicotine poisoning are similar in scope. It is possible to experience a whitey having used only what may be regarded as a moderate dosage. Whiteying sometimes involves vomiting and shakiness. These episodes generally only last around 15–20 minutes, and often are followed by a 'come down' the next morning.

Usually, the worst whiteys in the United Kingdom occur in Crewe, in the “whitey shed” and “petes” by the common perpetrators, Jason Bull and Lewis Stokes. By no means necessary can they be awoken, or the person who wakes them up would suffer from a whitey attack and a barrage of lies, including “I’m not white”, “I’m just tired”, “do you want to go home yet, (insert name)”.