What are Alkyl Nitrite Poppers?
Alkyl nitrite, also known as poppers, is becoming more and more popular as healthcare providers are reporting an increase in hospitalizations related to the intentional inhalation or ingestion of these substances for recreational use. Poppers are vasodilators or inhalant substances that have gained mainstream popularity as an adjunct to clubbing and sexual activity.
Under the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., the FDA is now targeting popper manufacturers. Double Scorpio, an Austin-based poppers manufacturer, recently had their offices raided by FDA. According to the Secretary, poppers were one of the main causes of AIDS. However, the theory is unsupported and has not been scientifically or clinically proven.
In a 2020 study of the substance, between 2015 to 2017, an estimated 3.3% of adults reported using poppers. About 35% of those included gay men. In 2021, the FDA issued an advisory to warn consumers not to purchase poppers on account of their serious adverse effects. Poppers are not FDA-regulated and since their popularity of use, there have been increasing reports of deaths, hospitalizations and dangerous side effects caused by the inhalant drug.
What are Inhalant Drugs?
Inhalants are chemicals that people breathe in for physical and mind-altering effects. They can be liquid chemicals that when opened have a strong smell. The smell is so powerful it can cause an immediate high and sensation in the body that lasts for a few minutes.
Poppers are a type of inhalant. They generally contain some type of nitrate including amyl nitrate, isopropyl nitrate, isobutyl nitrite, pentyl nitrite and butyl nitrate. These chemicals are not FDA-approved for human use.
What are Alkyl Nitrite Poppers?
Poppers belong to a class of drugs called alkyl nitrite. First identified in 1844, alkyl nitrite was a substance used by doctors to help ease chest pain due to its impact on blood flow to the heart. It gained popularity with gay men in the 1950s and 1960s in big cities like New York and San Francisco because it was available without a prescription.
Alkyl nitrite is a vasodilator. It works by expanding blood vessels throughout the body. The widening of blood vessels causes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body to relax. Dilated blood vessels can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, increased heart rate and lightheadedness. However, recreational users inhale the drug because it can produce an immediate, yet short-lived rush of euphoria and muscle relaxation.
According to a report in an issue of the California Legal Review, it is illegal to sell poppers for recreational use under US law. However, manufacturers of popper products selling brands such as Rush, Jungle Juice and Locker Room, have been using a loophole by marketing these chemicals for commercial purposes.
They are being sold as air fresheners, leather cleaners, liquid incense, deodorizers and nail polish remover. Poppers can be found online, in smoke shops, convenience stores and other novelty shops. They come in liquid form and are packaged in small bottles, which look strikingly similar to energy shot bottles.
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Risks and Side Effects of Poppers
- Short-lived euphoria – initial feelings of euphoria after inhaling the drug
- Muscle relaxation – the ability to relax involuntary muscles including anal and vaginal muscles that can reduce pain and discomfort during intimacy
- Difficulty breathing – respiratory reactions
- Extreme drop in blood pressure causing warming sensations throughout the body
- Decreased blood oxygen levels
- Seizures
- Heart arrhythmia – increased heart rate caused by dilated blood vessel
- Irregular heart condition
- Elevated body temperature
- Dizziness and fainting
- Headaches
- Chemical burns on your skin
- Permanent vision loss – when you lose vision as a result of retinal damage
- Heightened sensory perception – heightened sense of touch and the intensification of physical sensations
- When inhaled, vapors can cause blood disorders when blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen throughout the rest of the body
- Coma and death
Why is this substance so Popular?
So why are Poppers so popular? This drug is known as a party drug. Brand names such as Super Rush, Sub-Zero and Iron Horse are packaged in small liquid-filled bottles that cause a quick and instant euphoric high when inhaled. Recreational use of the drug has become widespread. Street names include Butyl Nitrite and Liquid Gold.
In a review of inhalant drug use among sexual minorities, research found that over a third of gay men in the US used poppers at least once in their lifetime. The popularity among gay men is due to the drug’s ability to relax the sphincter muscle making anal sex less painful and pleasurable.
The substance itself is not considered to be addictive because it does not cause the brain to release high levels of dopamine. It is not physically addictive. However, it can become habit-forming when it becomes associated with pleasurable experiences leading to continual and repeated use.
The euphoric effects can create a psychological dependence. After inhalation, the high can begin within a few seconds and last for a few minutes. It is often used in a binge-like pattern in order to prolong the effects.
Recreational users of the drug seek a quick onset of euphoria, to enhance a social experience or are searching for a heightened experience while participating in intimate and sexual activities. Despite its ease of availability and widespread recreational use, poppers are unsafe and dangerous. The risks of using the substance are often underestimated and in some cases can cause irreversible damage.
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Alkyl nitrite is a popular inhalant drug known as poppers. It is not a legal substance and is not regulated by the FDA. Mostly used recreationally, it has become a popular drug among partygoers that has resulted in complex side effects. Although not considered an addictive drug, users can become psychologically dependent due to the heightened sense of euphoria.
Inhalant drugs are popular among younger adults due to their ease of accessibility and availability. Poppers are sold online, in convenience stores, smoke shops and adult novelty stores. The sale of alkyl nitrite is illegal. However, manufacturers have found a legal loophole that allows them to market their products as commercial household cleaning items.
Hotel California by the Sea is a behavioral health program that specializes in substance use disorder treatment. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize clinically proven treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and family therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients reach their goals in sobriety and overcome their substance addiction.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324000
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-poppers-and-are-they-dangerous
https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/substance-use/are-poppers-side-effects-risks
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-19284-1
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/fda-reportedly-raids-manufacturer-poppers-increasingly-popular-party-d-rcna196505
https://www.highfocuscenters.com/understanding-poppers-what-they-are-their-effects-and-risks-of-use-and-abuse/