CBD (cannabidiol) and nitrous oxide are two substances that have seen a particular surge in popularity in recent years, largely due to an increasing supply through online platforms and brick-and-mortar stores. In France, little data is available on consumption levels among the general population.

However, the risks associated with their use are raising concerns among health authorities. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has thus issued warnings about the dangers associated with the use of CBD-based products sold online¹ and the increase in cases of severe poisoning linked to nitrous oxide use².

To provide initial information on consumption levels and the profiles of adult users of these two substances, Santé publique France is publishing previously unpublished data from the 2022 Health Barometer.

CBD and Nitrous Oxide Use in France

Rapid spread of CBD among adults, with consumption patterns varying by age

CBD is one of the main cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In France, the first over-the-counter CBD products appeared in 2017, and the first brick-and-mortar stores didn’t open until 2018. By 2022, three-quarters of French people had already heard of CBD, and 1 in 10 had used it within the past year, indicating rapid adoption of this product among the general population. However, it is still too early to say that its use has become established, as most consumers have tried it for the first time in the past two years. Experimentation with and consumption of CBD within the past year is most common among young adults aged 18 to 34 (27.6% and 17.5%, respectively).

Young people primarily consume CBD by smoking it, while older adults tend to consume it orally, suggesting different motivations for using the product: an alternative to the “traditional” joint (which mainly contains THC) for younger people and a use focused more on “well-being” or even self-medication for older adults.

This rapid spread of CBD among the general public highlights the public health challenges surrounding consumer information—particularly regarding drug interactions—and the regulation of CBD-based products.

Nitrous oxide use is more prevalent among young adults

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas used both for medical purposes (for pain relief and anesthesia) and in the food industry as a propellant in whipped cream canisters, for example. It is also misused for recreational purposes through inhalation, with the main effects sought by users being euphoria, hilarity, and altered perceptions.

While most French people (75%) aged 18 to 75 have heard of nitrous oxide, less than 1% have used it in the past year, all of whom are under 35. Among adults aged 18 to 35, 2.8% have used nitrous oxide in the past year. The average age of a nitrous oxide user is 25.

On the other hand, although men have experimented with it more, they do not consume more than women, unlike what is generally observed with illicit substances. The rise in cases of intoxication suggests that a substantial proportion of nitrous oxide users are engaged in risky practices, in a context where access to the product is facilitated by the internet, and where package sizes have increased in recent years.

Work that needs to continue to build on our understanding

This survey, modeled after the “Public Health France Barometers” surveys, is the first among the general adult population to use random sampling to estimate levels of CBD and nitrous oxide use in France.
Further studies will need to be conducted to track trends, develop a more detailed profile of users, their motivations, patterns of use, and perceptions of risk in order to guide public policy.