Alarming increase in poisonings from recreational nitrous oxide use after a change in EU-legislation, inquiries to the Dutch Poisons Information Center
BACKGROUND: After the change in EU-legislation in 2014, recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O) increased in the Netherlands from 2015 onwards. We studied the effect on N2O poisonings during an 11 year period. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed on the incidence rate of N2O poisonings, relative to all recreational drug poisonings reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center (DPIC) from 2010-2020. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of heavy use, frequent use, co-exposures, and toxicity in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: 433 N2O poisonings were included. The incidence rate... Mehr ...
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Dokumenttyp: | Artikel |
Erscheinungsdatum: | 2022 |
Schlagwörter: | Drugs of abuse / Legislation / Neurological damage / Nitrous oxide (N O) / Recreational drugs use / Health Policy / Medicine (miscellaneous) / Journal Article |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Permalink: | https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-27457747 |
Datenquelle: | BASE; Originalkatalog |
Powered By: | BASE |
Link(s) : | https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/444783 |
BACKGROUND: After the change in EU-legislation in 2014, recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O) increased in the Netherlands from 2015 onwards. We studied the effect on N2O poisonings during an 11 year period. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed on the incidence rate of N2O poisonings, relative to all recreational drug poisonings reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center (DPIC) from 2010-2020. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of heavy use, frequent use, co-exposures, and toxicity in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: 433 N2O poisonings were included. The incidence rate increased exponentially from 0.12% in 2010 to 11% in 2020, with an average monthly rate of 3.8%. In 2019 and 2020, 79% of the patients indicated heavy use, frequent use or both, and 42% used from large cylinders. Chronic toxicity (signs of peripheral neuropathy) was reported in 38% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The rate of N2O poisonings increased alarmingly in the Netherlands. An increasing proportion of patients reported problematic heavy or frequent use, accompanied by chronic toxicity.