A “continuous increase.” The health authorities are alarmed this Wednesday, April 16 of the progression of nitrogen oxide poisoning, otherwise called “hilarious gas”.
“Since 2020, poisoning reports linked to the useful use of nitrogen oxide, or ‘proto’, have been continuously acted,” said the National Medicines Agency (ANSM), Public Health Agency (ANSES) in a statement.
Nitrogen oxide is normally used in cooking, for example, in siphons of whipped cream, but deviates from its original use, mainly by adolescents and young adults, for recreational purposes. However, its consumption is dangerous.
This gas can “lead to dependence, as well as to serious, sometimes irreversible complications, in the nervous system and the cardiovascular system (heart and glasses) in case it is repeated and/or large quantities,” they warn of health authorities.
80% of reports identify neurological disorders
The latest figures, which date back to 2023, confirm that the phenomenon is growing. 472 Reports related to nitrogen oxide consumption were observed by evaluating the pharmacodependence-adictavigilance and information centers, and 305 reports were observed through antipot and toxicvigilance centers. Any of the respective increases of 30% and 20% compared to 2022.
These figures, which only refer to the listed poisoning, only give a limited vision of the magnitude of the general consumption of nitrogen oxide.
The number of reports has multiplied by three between 2020 and 2023, the ANSM points out, which also specifies that 10% of the reports refer to minors and more than 80% of the reports identify neurological disorders.
In 2023, the average age of consumers who made a report was 22 years. “59% of the reports correspond to repeated uses for more than a year,” said ANSM.
Consequences on newborns
Health authorities also point out that “the proportion of reports on women increases.” And mention a novelty: for the first time, two cases with respect to newborns were identified as a result of the use of nitrogen oxide by their mothers during pregnancy.
“We particularly alert pregnant women and process age to potentially serious risks for the child to be born,” they insist on the agencies.
After poisoning with nitrogen oxide, a numbness “in the arms and legs, a sensation of electric shock or electric shock, tingling, loss of touch, difficulties in walking or moving” may appear.
In this case, consult a health professional or an anti -poison center. If a person around us is taken of discomfort, it has difficulties to breathe or present awareness, it must quickly communicate with the SAMU, firefighters or medical emergencies in 112.
Nitrogen oxide can also make it depend: it is necessary to talk to him with a doctor or a structure specialized in addiction management.
Parliamentarians are studying restriction measures on this gas, whose sale is already prohibited for minors.
The senators voted in March the penalty of use diverted from nitrogen oxide, without going so far as to completely prohibit their sale to people as they had done before the deputies. The future of this law will depend on the negotiations between the two chambers.
Source: BFM TV
