Poppers

Overview

Alkyl nitrites (also known as poppers) are a class of volatile liquid substances including amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, cyclohexyl nitrite, ethyl nitrite, hexyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, isopropyl nitrite, and methyl nitrite (see this section for more details). PW

Poppers are recreational drugs belonging to the alkyl nitrite family of chemical compounds. When fumes from these substances are inhaled, they act as potent vasodilators, producing mild euphoria, warmth, and dizziness. Most effects have a rapid onset and are short-acting. Their recreational use is believed to be potentially dangerous for people with heart problems, anaemia, or glaucoma. Reported adverse effects include fainting, retinal toxicity, and vision loss. As poppers include a broad range of chemical types, their legality differs across different jurisdictions. They are often packaged under the guise of room deodorizer, leather polish, nail polish remover, or videotape head cleaner to evade anti-drug laws.[1][2][3] WP

The term poppers comes from the popping sound made when glass vials of the substance were crushed to release the vapors for inhalation. Amyl nitrite was originally prescribed in the late 1800s for the medical management of angina. Many analogues exist, such as isoamyl nitrite, isopentyl nitrite, isopropyl nitrite, and isobutyl nitrite. These substances are subject to different regulations; for example, isobutyl nitrite is banned in the European Union.[1] WP

Poppers act as muscle relaxants, causing the relaxation of involuntary smooth muscles such as the throat and anus. Such physiological effects, along with others (such as mild euphoria), have resulted in poppers being used as recreational drugs, sometimes during sexual intercourse, as the effects can heighten arousal and help facilitate acts such as anal intercourse. Poppers were a part of the club culture which began during the mid-1970s disco scene, and surged in popularity during the rave scene of the 1980s and 1990s.[4–8] WP

References

1. Journal / agency Romanelli F, Smith KM, Thornton AC, Pomeroy C. Poppers: epidemiology and clinical management of inhaled nitrite abuse. Pharmacotherapy. January 2004. doi:10.1592/phco.24.1.69.34801 · PMID 14740789
2. Journal / agency Davies AJ, Kelly SP, Naylor SG, Bhatt PR, Mathews JP, Sahni J, Haslett R, McKibbin M. Adverse ophthalmic reaction in poppers users: case series of 'poppers maculopathy'. Eye. November 2012. doi:10.1038/eye.2012.191 · PMID 23079752 · PMC3496104
3. Journal / agency Vignal-Clermont C, Audo I, Sahel JA, Paques M. Poppers-associated retinal toxicity. The New England Journal of Medicine. October 2010. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1005118 · PMID 20942681
4. Journal / agency Zhao P, Tang S, Wang C, Zhang Y, Best J, Tangthanasup TM, Huang S, Yang B, Wei C, Tucker JD, Tang W. Recreational Drug Use among Chinese MSM and Transgender Individuals: Results from a National Online Cross-Sectional Study. PLOS ONE. 2017-01-20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170024 · PMID 28107391 · PMC5249205
5. Journal / agency Schmidt AJ, Bourne A, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Marcus U, Hickson F. Illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men in 44 cities: Findings from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS). The International Journal on Drug Policy. December 2016. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.09.007 · PMID 27788450
6. Other Sex and Poppers. 28 November 2017
7. Other Nitrites
8. Other Nickerson M. Isobutyl nitrite and related compounds. 1979

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