Nicotine is the specific psychoactive substance of tobacco while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the specific component of cannabis. The inhalation technique of cannabis is different from that of tobacco smoking: the volume of puffs is larger, inhalation is deeper, and pulmonary retention time is longer. Cannabis addiction is difficult to evaluate, both products often being smoked concomitantly....
A 21 year old man was admitted to hospital as an emergency complaining of left sided chest pain. Chest radiograph revealed a complete non compressive left-sided pneumothorax which resolved following thoracic drainage. A more detailed history revealed repeated and regular use of nitrous oxide by inhalation, for its consciousness-altering effect during rave parties. The principal side effects...