Nitrous Oxide Addiction: Dangers of Short and Long-Term Use

In hospitals and dental practices, nitrous oxide is a sedative. In kitchens, it acts as a foaming agent for whipped cream. Yet, this colorless gas is raising concern. Why?

Nitrous oxide has a strong hallucinogenic effect when inhaled in pure form, producing a ‘high.’ Recreational use of nitrous oxide is on the rise, and addiction may be playing a role.

This article will uncover what nitrous oxide addiction is, the effects of nitrous oxide abuse, and the treatment methods available.

Nitrous oxide addiction involves an intense urge to use the substance, despite the barrage of negative consequences.

The dangers increase in severity from nausea and dizziness to brain damage depending on usage. However, you can access treatment via a doctor or counsellor.

Please note that inhalation and recreational use of nitrous oxide can pose significant risks to your health. We strongly recommend you avoid using nitrous oxide without proper medical supervision or consultation with a licensed health professional.

Nitrous Oxide Addiction: Short and Long-Term Effects

Short-Term Effects	Long-Term Effects
Dizziness	Brain Damage
Anxiety	Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Paranoia	Anemia
Excessive sweating	Weakened immune system
Vomiting/nausea	Incontinence
Fatigue	Limb spasms
Shivering	Memory loss, psychosis and more.

What is Nitrous Oxide, and How is it Used?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘nitrous oxide,’ you’ve likely heard one of its street names—‘laughing gas,’ ‘nos,’ ‘whippets,’ and ‘nangs,’—and when inhalation occurs via a balloon, ‘balloons.’

Nitrous oxide typically comes in pressurized metal canisters, often called ‘bulbs.’ People generally inhale this substance by discharging a canister into a balloon. Other, more dangerous methods also exist, which we will discuss later.

The immediate effects of laughing gas commonly last between 1-5 minutes and most standardized drug tests do not detect nitrous oxide.

Studies have shown that most individuals use nitrous oxide infrequently, which can carry much less risk than habitual usage. When use is frequent and individuals inhale multiple canisters in one sitting, there’s a risk of acute harm.

But does heavy use mean addiction? Let’s discuss that next.

What is Nitrous Oxide Addiction?

Nitrous oxide addiction isn’t well-researched. However, addiction, in general, refers to an intense, uncontrollable urge to use a substance, regardless of the negative consequences associated with it.

Nitrous Oxide Abuse and Opioid Receptor Activation

Various research highlights an association between nitrous oxide inhalation and opioid receptors in the brain.

Opioid drugs like morphine and heroin activate mu-opioid receptors, stimulating the body’s reward system and making us feel pleasure. There’s evidence to suggest that nitrous oxide inhalation has a similar effect.

One study found that nitrous oxide partially binds to mu, kappa, and sigma opioid receptors. This may indicate that inhaling nitrous oxide triggers pleasure signals in the brain, making addiction more likely.

“8.7% of 16–24-year-olds (approximately 549,000 people) have used nitrous oxide recreationally within the last year.”

The same study does, however, question why, if nitrous oxide is addictive, the incidence of addiction is so low compared to other drugs. Gillman concluded that the reasons for this may be two-fold:

1. Nitrous oxide’s effects are only short-lived (lasting around 1–5 minutes).
2. The gas only partially binds to opioid receptors, making the ‘high’ less intense than those of a full agonist.

Can Nitrous Oxide Cause Death?

Although rare, deaths do occur as a result of nitrous oxide inhalation. There is a record of 56 deaths between 2001 and 2020 in England and Wales. This survey notes several interesting findings:

• A higher prevalence of nitrous oxide recreational use in young adults, with around 8.7% of 16–24-year-olds (approximately 549,000 people) having used nitrous oxide within the last year.
• 2.4% of a broader sample of 16–59-year-olds (around 796,000 people) reported using nitrous oxide.

In a recent literature review, it was also found that multiple studies reported higher nitrous oxide use in males than females.

Their own case study found that those most likely to use nitrous oxide were males aged 16–24 who were attending nightclubs.

Effects of Nitrous Oxide Addiction

Nitrous oxide abuse and addiction are associated with various short-term and long-term effects. This section will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Short-Term Effects of Nitrous Oxide Use

The pleasant short-term effects of nitrous oxide include a fleeting feeling of euphoria, excitement, and a floating sensation. And it’s called ‘laughing gas’ for a reason – nitrous oxide often makes people feel giggly and relaxed.

However, various uncomfortable feelings can accompany these, such as:

• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting/nausea
• Fatigue
• Shivering

Some individuals also see hallucinations and experience sound distortions. Furthermore, on rare occasions, people can suffer from an allergic reaction to nitrous oxide, leading to hives, wheezing, breathing difficulties, a fever, and chills.

Regardless of inhalation method, all forms of nitrous oxide use without medical supervision or consultation with a licensed health practitioner is considered unsafe and strongly discouraged.

Long-Term Effects of Nitrous Oxide Use

While the short-term impact of nitrous oxide use seems unpleasant enough, evidence demonstrates that the potential long-term effects are more severe.

Brain Damage

Prolonged oxygen deprivation caused by harmful inhalation methods can result in nitrous oxide killing brain cells and, worst-case scenario, lead to brain damage and death.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Another potential long-term effect of heavy nitrous oxide use is vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in our nervous systems – severe depletion of this compound can lead to nerve damage, which individuals often experience as a tingling sensation or feeling of numbness in their limbs.

Anemia

Anemia is also a possible implication of toxic exposure to nitrous oxide. This is a deficiency in red blood cells, which can result in low oxygen levels and, ultimately, cognitive dysfunction.

Other Long-term Effects

Furthermore, evidence suggests that nitrous oxide abuse and addiction can cause:

• Weakened immune system
• Incontinence
• Dysfunction of the reproductive system
• Limb spasms

Psychologically, repetitive nitrous oxide use is also associated with:

• Memory loss
• Depression
• Psychosis
• Psychological dependence

Withdrawal symptoms resulting from addiction can include profuse sweating, insomnia, nausea, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, and seizures.

Treating Nitrous Oxide Addiction

While some people may believe that nitrous oxide use is safe because it’s typically legal, like any addiction, nitrous oxide addiction is challenging to overcome. However, it is treatable.

Treatment methods include:

• Contacting your doctor
• Accessing counseling/psychotherapy

Medical Intervention

Your doctor can point you toward the local drug and alcohol addiction services. Alternatively, some prescription medications, such as naltrexone, have proven to weaken nitrous oxide cravings and reduce the potential harm associated with chronic use.

Therapy

Accessing therapy may help avoid the triggers that make relapse more likely, such as stress and environmental cues.

Counseling can also assist you in uncovering traumas or emotional difficulties that may be fueling your nitrous oxide use.

Therapy methods commonly used to treat drug and alcohol addiction include:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Teaches you to identify the thoughts and feelings triggering nitrous oxide use, replacing them with healthier alternatives.
2. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Primarily focuses on acceptance and change by engaging in healthy behaviors and avoiding maladaptive ones.

Summary

People often overlook the risks of nitrous oxide use because of its legality. However, much like heroin, nitrous oxide stimulates pleasure, giving you an intrinsic reward every time you inhale it.

While some may consider the short-term effects of nitrous oxide use minor, the long-term consequences are much more significant, with the potential for brain damage or even death.

Whatever you do, don’t underestimate the risks of nitrous oxide use. Seek help.