Is it possible that N2 is addictive?

[FIXXERVI6]

Ok, think about this, some people believe that your body can become addicted to its own chemicals, like adreniline junkies, they litterly get hooked on the chemical for the "high"

Or chocolate, lots of people are addicted to that, and caffine, the list goes on, cause there are different ways of getting addicted, almost like developing a habit, like smoking, part of the addiction is the physical motion so on and so on.

So is it possible that ones body could become addicted to elevated levels of Nitrogen in the blood since at the same time your elevevated levels of Nitrogen are happening other chemicals are firing just due to the oo and ahh of diving and or excitment and stuff?

Would this explain ones need to dive even when weather is bad, vis is bad, it sucks outside but you gotta go anyway?

Would this explain ones urges to go diving in these conditions when your just sitting in your cube and it hits you, you can't stop thinking about it so you hit scuba board just to try for a placebo effect?

 

[SDAnderson]

That doesn't account for the fact that the most maniacal divers are diving trimix with substantially reduced ppN2, however. I think it's more likely that we're just obsessed.

Steven

 

[archman]

N2 is not metabolized by the body. I find it doubtful you could develop a chemical addiction for it.

 

[Scuba Cowboy]

Hi, my name is Dale, and I'm a Scubaholic. Yes it is addicting, not physically, but definately mentally. Last week I went diving in big swells, heavy surge and 3 ft vis and I loved it! There is no cure, just have to dive as much as possible.

 

[chrpai]

If I remember there is physical addiction and pyschological addiction. I believe exposure to excess partitial pressure of N2 is definatly pyschologically addictive. Divers have been known to go to great extremes online trying to get a hit of N2 when they can't get out and get it for real.

 

[DandyDon]

N2 is not metabolized by the body. I find it doubtful you could develop a chemical addiction for it.

Yeah, but - it's the basis for the poorly understood Narcosis, isn't it? I've read that Narcosis doesn't suddenly hit at depth, but that it gradually starts as soon as you increase pressure by submerging, and increases as you go deeper. The lower you go, the more it affects you. I often dive below 100 fsw, to 130, but I've never had "an episode." Still, I wonder if it's part of the feel-good I get from Scuba, along with the quiet, the "no thoughts of anything else," the feeling of accomplishment, etc.

don

 

[archman]

Narcosis is caused by reduced nervous function brought about by increased partial pressures of nitrogen at depth. It is "poorly understood" 'cuz the gas loading effects affect people differently, according to their body weight, metabolism, health, etc. etc..

Symptoms of nitrogen narcosis include: wooziness; giddiness; euphoria; disorientation; loss of balance; loss of manual dexterity; slowing of reaction time; fixation of ideas; and impairment of complex reasoning. These effects are exacerbated by cold, stress, and a rapid rate of compression.

So if you're "addicted", the cause would be best attributed as a psychological one. I have never read anything suggesting this however, nor even remotely heard anything about it until now.

 

[Warren_L]

I would agree with Archman on this - N2 is biologically inert, and physiological addictions would like have to have some sort of biological mechanism involved. N2 impairing neural function is more of a physical event than biological.

 

[DandyDon]

Correct as you both may well be, I still think the subtle effects of slight Narcosis is part of the feel good.

Will that fly?

don

 

[100days-a-year]

It would be,but there are easier ways of getting lit.I dive around quite a few recovering addicts/alcoholics and only one has ever given any indication it was uncomfortable for that reason.But do I think there are people diving that like the buzz...yep.