The recreational inhalation of N₂O “whippits” among college students at a Saudi University: prevalence, patterns, and perceived harm

Abstract

Background

Recreational nitrous oxide (N₂O) inhalation is a growing trend among young adults, but few studies have explored its prevalence. We aimed to measure the prevalence of recreational N₂O inhalation among Saudi university students, its perceived harm, as well its association with gender, college type and use of tobacco and alcohol.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at King Saud University, Riyadh, in September, 2022. Self-administered questionnaires asked about knowing someone who inhaled N₂O, awareness of whippits (cream charger bulbs), its recreational use, and perceived side effects.

Results

A total of 720 students participated (response rate = 82%). About 13.3% of the students heard about N₂O, 15.7% knew someone who inhaled N₂O recreationally, 7.9% ever inhaled it (8.3% women, and 7.5% men), and 36.8% thought it had no negative health effects. Whippits were the most common mode inhaled. Being a health-college student increased the odds for lifetime recreational inhalation by 97% (AOR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.10, 3.55), while hookah use increased the odds around three-fold (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI = 1.01, 10.63).

Conclusion

Saudi university students have a low perception of harm toward recreational N₂O inhalation and are experimenting with it, with greater odds for use among healthy college students. Raising community awareness about this behavior is needed.

Keywords:

• Nitrous oxide
• Whippits
• laughing gas
• university students
• substance abuse

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the King Saud University Deanship for Scientific Research for their continuous support. We would also like to thank Aleen Alkulyah, Aroub Al-mahmoud, Haifa Alamri, Lima Alotaibi, Mawaddah Alsobay, Modhi Alsubaie, Raed Neemat, Rawan Alqahtani, Rayan Bosaid, Reema Al-garni, Salma Alsaadoun and Sarah Alshahrani, for their assistance in participant recruitment and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific funding or grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or non-for-profit sectors.