The phenomenon is growing and no longer hides its excesses. The recreational use of nitrous oxide, the famous laughing gas, is causing more and more damage, mainly among young people, between student parties and other festivities. According to Public Health France, 4.3% of French people have already inhaled laughing gas, and up to 13.7% of young people aged 18 to 24.
The trend is increasing, despite campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of laughing gas. The misuse of this gas, generally used for medical or food purposes, stored in metal cartridges, can indeed have serious repercussions on health. This is the reason why its sale was, on the one hand, prohibited to minors from 2021, and on the other hand limited to other consumers.
Laughing gas: “users think the prototype is harmless”
“Because the sale is legal and the hilarious effect is ephemeral, users think that the “proto” is harmless”notes Dr Christophe Riou, addictologist in Lyon. “However, not only does this product have an addictive component – it has been found that it activates “pleasure” receptors, creating emotional dependence – but it also has a neurotoxic effect: in excessive doses, it can cause serious neurological damage. and irreversible, with paralysis of the limbs”.
According to the Hospices Civils de Lyon, hospitalizations linked to excess consumption of nitrous oxide continue to increase. Around thirty have been identified since the start of 2024 at the Pierre Wertheimer “neuro” hospital, the Lyon establishment specializing in the treatment of neurological pathologies.
“With a single call for a health reason linked to nitrous oxide, while certain health or sector professionals in 2017, the Lyon HCL-poison control center increased to 80 in 2022”. Dr Alexandra Boucher, pharmacist responsible for the HCL addictovigilance center, specifies that “since 2019, the number of files processed has increased 20-fold. And we are only talking here about clinical cases, which, moreover, are far from all being recorded. This is the tip of the iceberg. We know that consumption is much higher”.
Laughing gas: a unique teleconsultation in Lyon
In recent years, the Hospices Civils de Lyon have inevitably developed a certain expertise in this area. This know-how, fueled by the increase in cases, resulted in the opening, on November 12, 2024, of the very first teleconsultation in France specifically dedicated to consumers of nitrous oxide. “The objective: to create a real care sector and thus respond to a major problem, that of the entry into care of abusive consumers”.
The idea, through this unique consultation, is to detect risky behavior, prevent addictions and ensure treatment as early as possible, as DR Christophe Riou explains: “The problem is that the first symptoms, often tingling in the arms or legs, are perceived as mild. Many people affected, most of them very young, don’t pay attention or think it’s nothing. And when they reach us, it is often too late. With teleconsultation, our goal is to target consumers at the subclinical stage”.
Laughing gas: “deaths have been reported”
The exchange allows the specialist to evaluate the patient and, if necessary, to offer them a face-to-face consultation at the Pierre Wertheimer hospital (Eastern group of Hospices Civils de Lyon) and to direct them towards appropriate care. (drug treatment, hospitalization, etc. “Even if nitrous oxide has no replacement treatment, there are solutions to treat withdrawal symptoms,” confirms Dr. Riou. “But the best way to avoid serious remainder of stop consumption The pathologies linked to the “proto” represent a health burden with a risk of permanent after-effects, especially with young patients, while abusive use is something entirely avoidable, in any case we can avoid it. can support. It is essential to make consumers aware of this, and as early as possible.
To avoid, in the end, that it is too late: “We are dealing with a real public health issue, with significant risks in the event of addictive use. In addition to clinical cases of young patients who can no longer walk because the nervous system is damaged, cases of death linked to nitrous oxide have been reported. And, even without going that far, what state will a current consumer be in twenty years from now? There is reason to be worried”.
NAMELY
Four 30-minute teleconsultation slots are offered every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. by Dr Christophe Riou. To make an appointment: 04 72 11 78 52 or myhcl.sante-ra.fr
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