Editing Sodium nitrite (section)

=== Suicide ===
Several academic publications in 2020 and 2021 have discussed the toxicity of sodium nitrite, and an apparent recent increase in suicides using sodium nitrite which had been ordered online.<ref>{{harvp|Durão C, ''et al.'', 2020.}}; {{harvp|Durão C, ''et al.'', 2021.}}; {{harvp|Tomsia M, ''et al.'', 2021.}}; {{harvp|McCann SD, Kennedy JM, ''et al.'', 2021.}}; {{harvp|Dean DE, ''et al.'', 2021.}}; {{harvp|Hickey TB, ''et al.'', 2021.}}; {{harvp|Harvey M, ''et al.'', 2010.}}; {{harvp|McCann SD, Tweet MS, Wahl MS, 2021.}}; {{harvp|Sedhai YR, ''et al.'', 2022.}}; {{harvp|Mudan A, ''et al.'', 2020.}}</ref> The usage of sodium nitrite as a suicide method has been heavily discussed on suicide forums, primarily [[Sanctioned Suicide]].<ref name="Where the Despairing Log On, and Learn Ways to Die">{{cite news | vauthors = Twohey M |author-link=Megan Twohey|date=9 December 2021|title=Where the Despairing Log On, and Learn Ways to Die|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/09/us/where-the-despairing-log-on.html|access-date=24 July 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Sodium nitrite was also the focal-point of the ''McCarthy et al. v [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]'' lawsuit alleging that Amazon knowingly assisted in the deaths of healthy children by selling them "suicide kits" as Amazon's "[[recommendation engine|frequently bought together]]" feature recommended buying sodium nitrite, an [[antiemetic]], and a suicide instruction book together.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amazon 'suicide kits' have led to teen deaths, according to new lawsuit|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/amazon-suicide-kits-have-led-to-teen-deaths-according-to-new-lawsuit/| vauthors = Belanger A |work=[[Ars Technica]]|date=7 October 2022|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref> This lawsuit was dismissed in June 2023.<ref>{{cite news | vauthors = Stempel J |date=28 June 2023 |title=Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming Amazon sold 'suicide kits' to teenagers |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-claiming-amazon-sold-suicide-kits-teenagers-2023-06-28/ |access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref> The online marketplace eBay has globally prohibited the sale of sodium nitrite since 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-0246-Response-from-Ebay-UK-Ltd-Redacted.pdf|date=8 January 2021|title=Re Jason Thompson (deceased) – Sodium Nitrite|author=Director, eBay (UK) Limited|via=[[Judiciaries of the United Kingdom]]|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref> A [[Canadian]] distributor of sodium nitrite was prosecuted in 2023 for assisting suicide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/here-s-why-the-world-will-be-watching-kenneth-law-s-court-battle-1.6493596|title=Here's why the world will be watching Kenneth Law's court battle| vauthors = Murphy A |publisher=[[CFTO-DT|CTV Toronto]]|date=25 July 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66609884|title=88 UK deaths linked to Canada 'poison seller'| vauthors = Crawford A |publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=25 August 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref> That same year, legislation was introduced in the United States with the aim of deeming sodium nitrite products with a sodium nitrite concentration of greater than 10% by volume to be banned consumer products under the [[Consumer Product Safety Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chemical Used in Suicides Faces Sales Ban Under Proposed Law |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/chemical-used-in-suicides-faces-sales-ban-under-proposed-law |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}}</ref>

In cases of suspected suicide involving sodium nitrite, it is critical that [[First responder|responding individuals]] administer immediate intravenous [[methylene blue]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sheehy MH, Way JL |date=1 November 1974 |title=Nitrite intoxication: Protection with methylene blue and oxygen |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X%2874%2990093-3 |journal=Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=221–226 |doi=10.1016/0041-008X(74)90093-3 |bibcode=1974ToxAP..30..221S |issn=0041-008X|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ehlers P, Bryant SM | title = Immediate methylene blue is critical for sodium nitrite ingestions | journal = The American Journal of Emergency Medicine | volume = 68 | pages = 186 | date = June 2023 | pmid = 37120398 | doi = 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.04.034 | s2cid = 258324908}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Su M, McRae M |date=8 September 2022 |title=2022 Health Advisory #22 Poisonings and Death Related to Intentional Sodium Nitrite Ingestions |url=https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/han/advisory/2022/sodium-nitrate-ingestion-poisonings.pdf |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=[[New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene]]}}</ref> Methylene blue is the antidote to the [[methemoglobinemia]] caused by intentional ingestion of sodium nitrite as a suicide agent.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lee GW, Lee JB |date=16 December 2013 |title=Antidote for acquired methemoglobinemia: methylene blue |url=https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1042644 |journal=Journal of the Korean Medical Association |volume=56 |issue=12 |pages=1084–1090 |doi=10.5124/jkma.2013.56.12.1084|doi-access=free}}</ref>