Frequency and clinical characteristics of nitrous oxide use disorder among French health professions students

INTRODUCTION: Nitrous oxide recreational use and abuse has significantly increased in recent years among youth. To our knowledge, no previous study investigated the frequency and characteristics of N2O use disorder. OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency and the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of nitrous oxide use disorder in a sample of health professions students. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to health professions students at Paris-Cité University, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris-Saclay University, Lille University and Picardy University, France. The following data were collected: age, gender, frequency of nitrous oxid use, DSM-5 criteria for nitrous oxide use disorder, frequency (day/week/month/year/lifetime) of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, and hallucinogens use, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores (AUDIT), the Fagerström Tobacco Dependence Test scores, the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test scores, lifetime psychiatric or sleep disorders. RESULTS: 2067 participants (mean age 21.7±2.6 years, 75% female) completed the survey from September 2021 to May 2022. Among them, 38% (n=790) reported nitrous oxide lifetime use. Seven per cent of the subjects (n=137) fulfilled DSM-5 criteria for current nitrous oxide use disorder (114 mild use disorder, 16 moderate use disorder, 7 severe use disorder). In the group of patients with nitrous oxide use disorder, there were correlations between nitrous oxide use disorder and daily alcohol use (Chi2=24.2, p<0.0001), daily tobacco use (Chi2=25.3, p<0.0001), AUDIT scores >12 (Chi2=7.9, p<0.0001), lifetime depressive disorders (Chi2 =13.6, p=0.0001), anxiety disorders (Chi2 =13.2, p=0.02), or sleep disorders (Chi2 =14.4, p=0.006), compared to the group of subjects without nitrous oxide use or the group of subjects without nitrous oxide use disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Nitrous oxide use and nitrous oxide use disorder were common among the health professions students included in the present study and correlated with daily alcohol or tobacco use. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST: None Declared