7- Nitrous Oxide Abuse Issues 2020.pdf

Nitrous Oxide Abuse Issues Inhalant Abuse ▪ McGarvey and colleagues surveyed 285 adolescents and found the 5 most frequently inhaled substances were: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Gasoline Refrigerant (Freon) Butane Glue Nitrous Oxide Inhalants ▪ Typewriter correction fluid ▪ Computer cleaners ▪ All are legal, easy to...

Nitrous Oxide Abuse Issues Inhalant Abuse ▪ McGarvey and colleagues surveyed 285 adolescents and found the 5 most frequently inhaled substances were: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Gasoline Refrigerant (Freon) Butane Glue Nitrous Oxide Inhalants ▪ Typewriter correction fluid ▪ Computer cleaners ▪ All are legal, easy to obtain Nitrous Oxide Abuse Nitrous Oxide Abuse ▪ Abuses appear to be older than those inhaling solvents ▪ Healthcare personnel who have ready access are noted recreational users Nitrous Oxide ▪ Easily obtainable for recreational use ▪ Stolen cylinders, access to the tanks ▪ Used in auto racing: mixed with sulfur dioxide and is noxious ▪ Homemade N2O ▪ Used as a food ingredient, as whipping cream propellant ▪ Whippets ▪ Also found in aerosol cans of whipping cream Health Hazards ▪ Megaloblastic hematopoiesis and ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ leukopenia Neurologic Frostbite Pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum from use of a whippet Asphyxiation Sexual Phenomena Associated with Nitrous Oxide ▪ Allegations of sexual impropriety have been made against health professionals after patients were sedated with nitrous oxide ▪ Hallucinations and auditory illusions, dreaming and fantasizing ▪ Usually when using concentrations greater than 50%: A third party should always be present Addictive Nature of Nitrous Oxide ▪ Compared to other drugs, the abuse is low ▪ Evidence exists that suggest nitrous oxide involved with the endogenous opioid system ▪ Presently does not exist as a public health concern