Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Prevalence of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) use appears to be increasing in numerous countries worldwide, and excessive use has been associated with physical and mental problems. Because there currently is no consensus whether N 2 O has addictive potential, we aimed to evaluate the evidence for the presence and prevalence of DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms in N 2 O users.
ANALYSIS:
A literature search was conducted to assess the evidence for the presence of any of the 11 DSM-5 SUD symptoms in N 2 O users and the prevalence experiencing those symptoms. A substantial part of the studied N 2 O users use more than intended (i.e. 46% to 98%) and spend a substantial amount of time using N 2 O. At least some of the studied N 2 O users experience interpersonal problems (i.e. 13% to 80%) and use N 2 O in risky situations, such as driving under the influence. Evidence for the other criteria is either insufficient or inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS:
The literature base for the presence and prevalence of DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms in nitrous oxide (N 2 O) users is limited and largely consists of qualitative studies and case studies, but it provides consistent evidence for the presence of at least four SUD criteria in heavy N 2 O users. N 2 O could well be addictive and should be treated as a potentially addictive substance until systematic assessments can provide evidence-based guidance to users, healthcare professionals and legislators.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 609-618 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Addiction |
Volume | 119 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 30 Oct 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2024 |
Bibliographical note
© 2023 The Authors. Addiction published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.Research programs
- ESSB PSY