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Clinical Characteristics of Health Professions Students with Nitrous Oxide Use Disorder
Bernard Angerville1,2,3, Alexandre Szusterman4, Lisa Blecha4
1Filière universitaire d'addictologie, EPS Barthélémy Durand, Etampes, France.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
|February 3, 2025
Summary
Recreational nitrous oxide (N₂O) use is rising among young people. A study found 6.6% of health students met criteria for N₂O use disorder (NUD), often linked with alcohol issues and mental health treatment history.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Recreational nitrous oxide (N₂O) use, often termed 'laughing gas', has seen a significant increase among young populations.
- This trend necessitates an understanding of the prevalence and clinical profile of nitrous oxide use disorder (NUD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of N₂O use and NUD among health professions students.
- To characterize the clinical features associated with NUD in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 2067 health professions students.
- Data collected included N₂O usage patterns, DSM-5 criteria for NUD, mental health history, antidepressant use, and validated screening tools for alcohol (AUDIT) and cannabis (CAST) use disorders.
Main Results:
- 38.2% reported lifetime N₂O use, with 6.6% meeting DSM-5 criteria for current NUD (mild, moderate, or severe).
- NUD was significantly associated with higher AUDIT scores (indicating alcohol dependence), reported blackouts, prior mental health treatment, and current antidepressant use.
Conclusions:
- N₂O use disorder is a relevant issue among health professions students, frequently co-occurring with alcohol use disorders and mental health conditions.
- Further longitudinal research with structured interviews is recommended to explore causal links between NUD, alcohol use disorders, and psychiatric disorders in the broader population.
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