Abstract
PurposeA rapid increase of recreational nitrous oxide use (i.e. laughing gas, N2O) has been reported in several countries, while it has received limited attention in scientific research. We aimed to study the association of socio-demographic characteristics, mental well-being, sickness absence, truancy, and substance use with the frequency of lifetime nitrous oxide use among adolescents.MethodsWe used self-reported questionnaire data of adolescents (N = 555) attending secondary schools to cross-sectionally assess the frequency of nitrous oxide use and potential factors associated with nitrous oxide use, such as gender, mental well-being, and binge drinking. Ordinal logistic regression models were applied with lifetime nitrous oxide use (never, once, ≥ two times) as the outcome variable.ResultsAdolescents were on average 15.6 years old (SD = 0.83, range 14–18), 47.0% were female. In total, 86 (15.6%) adolescents had used nitrous oxide at least once in their life.In the multivariable ordinal regression model, the risk of having a higher category of lifetime nitrous oxide use was associated with a non-Dutch ethnic background (OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.22; 3.61), attending pre-vocational education (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.06; 3.34), a higher score on the scale of externalizing problems (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.01; 1.20), binge drinking twice or more in the past four weeks (OR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.25; 4.94), and cannabis use (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.03; 3.79).ConclusionsYouth Health Care professionals should be aware of nitrous oxide use in adolescents, especially among adolescents with a non-Dutch ethnic background, lower education levels, externalizing problems, frequent binge drinking, and cannabis use.
Highlights
The recreational use of nitrous oxide has been reported to increase rapidly in western countries [1,2,3,4]
In the multivariable ordinal regression model, the risk of having a higher category of lifetime nitrous oxide use was associated with a non-Dutch ethnic background (OR = 2.10, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.22; 3.61), attending pre-vocational education (OR = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06; 3.34), a higher score on the scale of externalizing problems (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.01; 1.20), binge drinking twice or more in the past four weeks (OR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.25; 4.94), and cannabis use (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.03; 3.79)
We aim to explore the association of socio-demographic characteristics, internalizing and externalizing problems, mental well-being, sickness absence from school, truancy, and substance use with the frequency of lifetime nitrous oxide use among adolescents in a general population sample
Summary
The recreational use of nitrous oxide (i.e. laughing gas, N2O) has been reported to increase rapidly in western countries [1,2,3,4]. Studies using a representative sample of 12-16-year-old secondary school students demonstrated an increase in lifetime nitrous oxide use between 2015 (7.8%) and 2017 (9.4%), which was significant for girls [3,4]. Recreational nitrous oxide use is mostly used by inhaling the nitrous oxide from balloons, these balloons are filled with nitrous oxide through cylinders or whipped cream dispensers [7]. Users inhale the gas directly from the cylinder or whipped cream dispenser, which could result in complications, such as a frostbite injury [9]. The use of nitrous oxide causes lowered consciousness, dizziness, and deformation of vision and sound. These consequences may result in euphoric feelings as well as anxiety or distress. The effects disappear circa five minutes after inhaling, but there is some evidence that the effects may linger on for hours [7]
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