The consumption of nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”, a substance with growing popularity, has risen sharply in 2021, with increasingly higher absorbed doses and an increase in serious cases, the medicines agency (ANSM) detailed on Wednesday. .
“This is a major public health problem,” summed up Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of ANSM.
According to the agency, in 2021, healthcare professionals reported 472 “reports” of use compared to 254 in 2020.
Up to 24 bottles per day and 48 bottles in one night
This is the recreational misuse of culinary nitrous oxide. This can have serious and long-lasting neurological consequences and lead to hospitalization, especially in regular users. The number of reported serious cases, as such, is also increasing: it has more than tripled, from 82 in 2020 to 265 in 2021.
Another worrying phenomenon, the consumption of this gas “is becoming chronic,” says Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil. In fact, consumption is daily in almost half of the reported cases (47% of reported cases) compared to 34% in 2020.
The two are toujours plus élevées: désormais the bouteilles/bonbonnes, where the caliber is equal to around 100 cartouches, represent the majority of the consommées (71.6%) and the consommations peuvent aller jusqu’à 24 bouteilles per day and 48 bouteilles in one night.
young consumers
The proportion of underage consumers has stabilized (11.2% compared to 13.4% in 2020). A law passed in May 2021 prohibited the sale of this psychotropic to minors under 18 years of age and its sale at beverage and tobacco outlets. Consumers are still young (22 years on average) and 58% men (compared to 69% in 2020).
Nitrous oxide consumption poses serious health risks. Neurological complications continue to be the most reported complications in 2021: they are present in 80% of cases (compared to 70% in 2020). New cardiovascular complications have also been reported.
In this context, the ANSM has just published a document aimed at health professionals to help them identify the symptoms suggestive of nitrous oxide poisoning and care for a person in a situation of poisoning.
Source: BFM TV
