Poppers

Recreational drug use over the years has been on the rise over the past few decades. As drugs become more potent and regularly accessible, both men and women have searched for the newest “trend” drug of choice. Alkyl nitrites, also know as “poppers” in the recreational drug using community, have taken the club scene by storm being one of the top recreational drugs of choice among club goers. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) With sexually transmitted infection on the rise over that past few decades, many attribute poppers to the sharp increase among men and women between the ages of 18-35 (Homohealth.org, 2011)



With being traced back to being used by Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton, a Scottish Physician, to alleviate the symptoms of angina (by improving blood flow through arteries), poppers laid low for decades, until making a slight comeback as a recreational drug during the 1970’s disco era. Poppers made their mainstream debut in the 1980’s, ultimately rumored to be a major reason for the spread of AIDs among the homosexual community. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) The drug was ultimately dubbed illegal in many western countries as of 1990 on the grounds of being a danger to consumers (Wikipedia.com, 2011) Alkyl nitrites are comprised of amyl nitrite, isopropyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite. Today Amyl nitrite is used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) When the drug began to catch on for recreational drug use, people were not sure what to call it in a casual setting. The name “poppers” comes from when the drug was sold in a glass tube covered with fishnet. When the tube was opened, it was known to make a popping noise. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) After being dubbed illegal by western federal governments, after a medical student from California, Clifford Hassing, changed the chemical make-up of the drug. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) Once this was done, many other drug entrepreneurs changed the chemical make-up and patented their creations to bypass drug laws. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) Over the years, new information has arisen about the possible physical damage done by the recreational use of poppers. (MedicineNet.com, 2010)
 * History**


 * The Rise of Poppers for Recreational Use**

One of the major reasons poppers have risen to being such a widely used recreation drug is that the ingredients are found in many household items. Commonly sold in record stores, clubs and porn shops, poppers are widely available to the public to be misused for recreational use. Many shops sell poppers as vinyl cleaner, liquid incense, room deodorizer, and video-head cleaner. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) During the Vietnam War, poppers became a popular remedy to battle tiredness for GI’s after long days on the field. After the general population knew the effects of the drug, the drug became wildly popular for recreational use during the disco era. In the 1970’s, it was commonly know by the gay communities that clubs were filled with poppers. Poppers were so popular at this time that gay disco clubs were known to occasionally spray the dance floor with the drug to increase the overall euphoric effect on their patrons. (Duesberg.com, 2011) Decades later, the drug was still popular among club goers when the waves of raves hit the club scene.


 * Sexual Use**

When poppers are inhaled, the consumer will feel a “rush” and intense sexual desire for anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 ½ minutes. The drug is used recreationally in the gay community mostly due to its properties. (HomoHealth.org, 2011) The drug is known to relax the sphincter muscle of the anus and the vagina for a couple of minutes which can decrease pain associated with the stretching of the anal sphincter during anal sex. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) According to a survey done in 2006 by HomoHealth.com, a segment of the gay community (29%), known as bottoms (i.e receiving anal sex), prefer to use poppers during sex to increase sensitivity and relax the smooth muscle around the anus. (HomoHealth.org, 2011)


 * Association with the Rise of AIDS & HIV**

Controversy surrounds the subject of weather poppers have either increased the AIDS epidemic or not. Some researchers say that poppers increase one’s sexual risk taking abilities. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) Another subject that has come up is that there is a relation between the use of poppers with HIV positive men and Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of skin cancer). Rumors spread that if men that were HIV positive inhaled poppers would be at a higher risk of being diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma; however, studies have shown that there is not an association between the drug and diagnosis with Kaposi’s sarcoma. (Wikipedia.com, 2011)


 * Damaging Effects Associated with Use**

Poppers are extremely dangerous when used at the same time as Viagra, mainly due to both decreasing the recreational user’s blood pressure. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) Poppers are also known to negatively effect patients diagnosed with glaucoma due to a raise in intraocular pressure and could possibly cause blindness if used for a prolonged amount of time. (Medicinenet.com, 2010) When used during sex, poppers have been known to increase the chances of rectal tearing, as well as erectile dysfunction. (HomoHealth.com, 2011) Also, many users experience head rushes and dizziness that usually only lasts for around 2 minutes. Doctors say that if this drug is used regularly that long-term brain damage can be incurred.


 * General Consensus**

Due to being wildly popular among teens, poppers still seem to be the drug of choice for club goers. The appeal of the drug is that there are not many side effects associated with the drug. Because the drug only lasts for a small amount of time compared to many other illegal drugs, poppers do not seem to be looked down upon as much as other illegal drugs are. As the ingredients of poppers remain readily available to consumers and the general side effect remain minor, the drug will continue to remain the drug of choice (even over ecstasy, which can cause immediate death with some users) with club goers. (Wikipedia.com, 2011) With poppers remaining popular for so many decades, one could assume that the drug will remain prevalent in the given communities in the future.

**Work Cited**

HomoHealth - Poppers. (n.d.). //HomoHealth - Main//. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from http://www.homohealth.org/mens_program/sexualhealth/poppers.htm MDMA. (n.d.). //WikiPedia//. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA Mozez, A. (n.d.). Club Drug 'Poppers' May Be Linked to Eye Damage. //Medicine Net//. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from Club Drug 'Poppers' May Be Linked to Eye Damage Poppers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved April 2, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppers#Legality Young, I. (n.d.). Duesberg on AIDS- The Poppers Story. //Peter Duesberg on AIDS - Duesberg.com - HIV / AIDS research website for Peter H. Duesberg.//. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.duesberg.com/articles/iypoppers.html