Historique
Rapport
Nitrous oxide: Updated harms assessment
Auteur(s) :
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)
Année
2023
Page(s) :
41 p.
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Autres substances / Other substances
Discipline :
SAN (Santé publique / Public health)
Thésaurus géographique
ROYAUME-UNI
Thésaurus mots-clés
PROTOXYDE D'AZOTE
;
FACTEUR DE RISQUE
;
RECOMMANDATION
;
LEGISLATION
;
PREVALENCE
;
EFFET SECONDAIRE
Résumé :
The main findings in the report are as follows:
- Nitrous oxide remains a widely used drug in non-legitimate settings, particularly by young people.
- The types of harms caused by nitrous oxide have not changed since the last ACMD report in 2015.
- The number of deaths and demand for treatment for problematic use of nitrous oxide remains low compared to other drugs.
- There have, however, been reports of an increase in neurological harms, including nerve and spinal cord damage, related to heavy and persistent use. The availability of larger volume canisters may be linked to higher use and greater subsequent harms in some people who use nitrous oxide.
- There have also been anecdotal reports of an increase in some social harms such as driving under the influence and littering, although data on these harms are not systematically collected at present.
- Following a review of the available evidence and a public call for evidence, it is clear that additional measures are needed to reduce the health and social harms of nitrous oxide. These measures should be evidence-based and proportionate.
The ACMD has made 7 recommendations in the report and no single recommendation on its own is likely to be sufficient to successfully reduce the harms associated with nitrous oxide use.
- Nitrous oxide remains a widely used drug in non-legitimate settings, particularly by young people.
- The types of harms caused by nitrous oxide have not changed since the last ACMD report in 2015.
- The number of deaths and demand for treatment for problematic use of nitrous oxide remains low compared to other drugs.
- There have, however, been reports of an increase in neurological harms, including nerve and spinal cord damage, related to heavy and persistent use. The availability of larger volume canisters may be linked to higher use and greater subsequent harms in some people who use nitrous oxide.
- There have also been anecdotal reports of an increase in some social harms such as driving under the influence and littering, although data on these harms are not systematically collected at present.
- Following a review of the available evidence and a public call for evidence, it is clear that additional measures are needed to reduce the health and social harms of nitrous oxide. These measures should be evidence-based and proportionate.
The ACMD has made 7 recommendations in the report and no single recommendation on its own is likely to be sufficient to successfully reduce the harms associated with nitrous oxide use.
Affiliation :
UK