July and August 2025

US Nitrous Oxide Mortality From 2010 to 2023, there was a total of 1240 deaths attributable to nitrous oxide poisoning among people aged 15 to 74 years in the US, with 23 deaths observed in 2010 and 156 deaths observed in 2023.

Treatments for Inhalant and Volatile Substance Misuse: A Scoping Review This scoping review examines the proposed treatment options for inhalant and volatile substance misuse. It categorizes the proposed treatments and specifically outlines their effectiveness and limiting factors. 

Recreational Nitrous Oxide Misuse: Anaesthetic Challenges and Perioperative Complications Including Airway Burns and Neurological Sequelae This review highlights the perioperative implications of N2O misuse, with a focus on airway injury, neurological sequelae, and anaesthetic management. Cold burns from direct inhalation can compromise airway safety, while chronic use leads to functional vitamin B12 inactivation, resulting in subacute combined degeneration and peripheral neuropathy.

Diagnostic Challenges and Key Insights of Nitrous Oxide Neuropathy: A Case Series  We present two cases highlighting diagnostic challenges consisting of a 34-year-old male and a 52-year old, both initially misdiagnosed as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). They were eventually diagnosed as N2O-induced neuropathy based on lab testing and electrodiagnostic findings.

Impact of Nitrous Oxide on Neuropsychiatric Impairment in Adolescents: A Scoping Review  This scoping review investigates recent and foundational studies on the long-term neuropsychiatric effects associated with prolonged and frequent use of this volatile gas.