Poppers is the street term for various alkyl nitrites taken for recreational purposes through direct inhalation, particularly amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite.[1][2] Amyl nitrite has a centuries-long history of use in treating angina,[3] as well as an antidote to cyanide poisoning.[4] Amyl nitrite and several other alkyl nitrites which are used in over-the-counter products, such as room odorizers and video head cleaners, may be inhaled to enhance sexual pleasure.[5] Use is particularly prominent among gay urban men.[5] These products have long been part of the club culture from the 1970s disco scene to the 1980s and 1990s rave scene.[6]
Contents
1 Availability & legality
1.1 United States
1.2 United Kingdom
1.3 Street names
2 Physiological effects
3 Health Issues
4 Chemistry
5 Trivia
6 References
Availability & legality
United States
Several alkyl nitrite compounds can be used as poppers and most are found in a variety of consumer products which are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.[3][7]
Amyl nitrite was originally marketed as a prescription drug in 1937, and remained so until 1960, when the Food and Drug Administration removed the prescription requirement. This requirement was reinstated in 1969.[3]
Other Alkyl nitrites used in room deodorizer products were outlawed in the USA by Congress in 1990.[citation needed] Manufacturers reformulated their products to abide by the law, and today nitrite based products are sold as video head cleaner, polish remover or room odorants.[3]
Cyclohexyl nitrite is technically not a member of the class of alkyl nitrites encompassed by the law, but as a result of the Federal Analog Act, its status remains in question.
United Kingdom
Amyl nitrite is controlled under the Medicines Act, and although possession is legal, supply may be an offence.[1][2] Other nitrites are readily available in consumer products such as room odorants and leather cleaner, and numerous shops, particularly sex shops, clubs, and shops selling drug paraphernalia, sell them as "room aromas" or similar.[1][2] However, a recent European Union directive, as well as a decision made by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency means that any product on sale with a psychoactive effect could be classed as a medicine regardless of how it is marketed, and so controlled under the Medicines Act.[6]
Prices are commonly in the range of £2–5 GBP.[1]
Street names
Alkyl Nitrites were originally sold in small glass ampules that were crushed to release their vapors, and received the name "poppers" as a result of the popping sound made by crushing the ampule.[8] Today, poppers are known by a variety of names, primarily coming from the brand names by which they are sold. Brand names include Rush,[2][5][9] Locker Room,[2][5] Snappers,[2][10] and Liquid Gold.[1][2] Many brand names exist and are in use in different localities.
Physiological effects
Inhaling nitrites relaxes smooth muscles throughout the body, including the sphincter muscles of the anus and the vagina.[4] This causes the blood vessels to dilate (which causes a sudden drop in blood pressure), increases heart rate, and produces a sensation of heat and excitement that usually lasts for a couple of minutes.[11]
The recreational use of alkyl nitrites is typically an attempt to enhance a sexual experience.[5] The head rush, euphoria, and other sensations that result from the blood pressure drop are often felt to increase sexual arousal and desire.[5] At the same time, the relaxation of the sphincters of the anus and vagina can make penetration easier.[12] It is widely reported that poppers can enhance and prolong orgasms.[1]
While anecdotal evidence reveals that both men and women can find the experience of using poppers pleasurable,[specify] this experience is not universal. Some men report that a reduction in erection stiffness can interfere with sexual performance.[1]
Health Issues
There is little evidence of significant hazard associated with inhalation of alkyl nitrites.[5]
High doses of nitrites may cause the rare methemoglobinemia, especially in individuals predisposed towards such a condition.[4][13] It is suggested that taking Viagra with nitrites could cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or even heart attack.[14][15] As poppers increase pressure within the eyeball, users with glaucoma take additional risks when using poppers.[13][16]
There has also been a suggestion that poppers may weaken the immune system, however any damage is undone within a few days of halting use.[17] Other risks include rashes around the mouth and nose, burns if spilt on skin, loss of consciousness, and headaches.[1][18]
Suggestions of a link between poppers and either AIDS, HIV infection or an AIDS-related cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma have been made but are subject to on-going debate. There appears to be a statistical correlation between popper use and Kaposi's. However the most recently published peer-reviewed English-language overview of research on the health risks of poppers notes a lack of controlled trials. The correlation might therefore be accounted for by a bias among popper users towards other high risk behaviours. [19] An article from 1992 in The Lancet draws just that conclusion finding that the practice of insertive rimming explained excess rates of Kaposi's sarcoma.[20] A study that followed 715 gay men for eight and a half years published in the Lancet the following year rejected any causal relationship between AIDS and poppers, but noted a correlation between HIV infection and poppers. Anal sex was also correlated.[21] The research on HIV links has sufficiently concerned some authorities that there have been calls for health warnings at point of sale.[22]
Chemistry
Poppers are a class of chemicals called alkyl nitrites. These are chemical compounds of structure R-ONO. More formally, they are alkyl esters of nitrous acid.
The first few members of the series are volatile liquids; methyl nitrite and ethyl nitrite are gaseous at room temperature and pressure.
Organic nitrites are prepared from alcohols and sodium nitrite in sulfuric acid solution. They decompose slowly on standing, the decomposition products being oxides of nitrogen, water, the alcohol, and polymerization products of the aldehyde.
Trivia
This article contains a trivia section.
Content in this section should be integrated into the body of the article or removed.
This article has been tagged since June 2007.
Amyl nitrite was popularized in Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and in Radley Metzger's 1972 cult classic film Score. In the film, a bisexual woman glides them under the nose of a heterosexual woman in an attempt to seduce her.
During the 1970s and 1980's, the mainstream media often wrote about poppers.[23][24]
According to the DVD Commentary, in John Waters film Pink Flamingos, Devine sniffs amyl nitrite (which was real) during the party scene. He starts laughing visibly after the effects kick in.
Amyl nitrite is also mentioned in Hannibal, the sequel to The Silence Of The Lambs, and by Chloe in Fight Club.
The title of the song Animal Nitrate by Suede is a reference to amyl nitrite.
In the popular US series Queer As Folk amyl nitrite is constantly referred to throughout.
References
^ a b c d e f g h Poppers. Frank. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
^ a b c d e f g Poppers: The effects, the risks, the law. TheSite.org. YouthNet UK. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
^ a b c d Galson, Steven K. (2006-01-10). Letter to Gerald Austen Re Docket No. 2004P-0411/CP1 (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
^ a b c Amyl Nitrite. Medsafe. New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (2000-05-18). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ a b c d e f g "Volatile Nitrites". The Merck Manual Online. (November 2005). Ed. Porter, Robert S., et al.. Merck & Co.. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
^ a b Nitrites. Drugscope. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
^ U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Compliance Bans of Butyl Nitrite and Volatile Alkyl Nitrite (PDF). Consumer Product Safety Commission (August 2002). Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
^ Poppers. homohealth.org. Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
^ Essential Facts. iabuse.org. Inhalant Abuse Action Group. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ Inhalants. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ Amyl Nitrate. Addiction Recovery and Rehab Terminiology Reference: Drug and Alcohol Dictionary. California Rehab Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
^ Reds Room Odouriser. Ann Summers. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ a b Horwath, Ewald (2004-05-19). Chemical addictions and their effect on someone with HIV. The Body. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
^ Viagra May Cause Heart Attack Deaths In Younger Men With No Heart Problems, Study Finds. PSA Rising. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ Experts See Dangerous Trend In Use Of Viagra With 'Party Pills'. Aetna InteliHealth (2004-06-24). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
^ Amyl Nitrate [sic]. Drug Factfile. Watton on the Web. Retrieved on 2007-04-30.
^ Sheppard, Simon. Speaking of Poppers. Sex Talk p. 2. Gay.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-16. “There is evidence that using poppers does lower immune function, though the damage is undone in at most a few days.”
^ Wood, Ronald W. (1989). The Acute Toxicity of Nitrite Inhalants (PDF), National Institute on Drug Abuse, pp. 28-29. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
^ Romanelli F, Smith KM, Thornton, AC & Pomeroy C (2004) "Poppers: epidemiology and clinical management of inhaled nitrite abuse", Pharmacotherapy 2004 Jan; Vol. 24 (1), pp. 69-78.
^ Beral V, Bull D, Darby S, Weller I, Carne C, Beecham M & Jaffe H (1992) "Risk of Kaposi's sarcoma and sexual practices associated with faecal contact in homosexual or bisexual mens with AIDS", The Lancet (March 14, 1992) Vol. 339 (8794) pp. 632-5.
^ Schechter MT, Craib KJP, Gelmon KA, Montaner JSG, Le TN & O'Shaughnessy MV (1993) "HIV-1 and the aetiology of AIDS", The Lancet (March 13, 1993) vol (8846) pp. 658-9.
^ Heredia, Christopher. ""Poppers' link to HIV prompts call for warnings in S.F.", San Fransisco Chronicle, 2001-10-25. Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
^ Sansweet, Stephen J.. "A New Way to Glow And Giggle, and Get A Headache Besides" (Reprint), The Wall Street Journal, 1977-10-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
^ "Rushing to a New High", Time, 1978-07-17. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
Alkyl nitrites edit
Amyl nitrite | Butyl nitrite | Ethyl nitrite | Methyl nitrite | Isopropyl nitrite | Isobutyl nitrite | Cyclohexyl nitrite | "Poppers" (used as a recreational drug) | ISOBUTYL NITRITE and Related Compounds
Categories: Articles to be merged since date=June 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles lacking sources from April 2007 | All articles lacking sources | NPOV disputes | Articles with trivia sections from June 2007 | Antianginals | Antidotes | Alkyl nitrites | Drug culture
