Poppers: Are they Safe?
The official term for poppers is amyl nitrate. They were originally used as a treatment for angina, which is a chest pain caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart. Poppers are usually sniffed straight from the bottle. Some people pour some on a tissue or hankie and sniff from that. Poppers cause the blood vessels to open, the heart to beat quicker and blood to rush to the brain. This is what causes the ‘rush’ that leads to dizziness, light headedness, a flushed face and sometimes a pounding headache.
Some people use poppers to boost the effects of other drugs such as alcohol and ecstasy. They’re also used in clubs to heighten the enjoyment of the music. During sex, they’re used to heighten sensations and to relax the muscles of the arse so it’s easier to be fucked. You can develop a rash around the lips, cheeks and nose from sniffing poppers too much. This usually clears up after a few days of not sniffing. Poppers are also highly flammable, so keep them well away from naked flames and lit cigarettes. Always wash off any that spills on your skin and never drink the stuff – it’s highly poisonous. Anyone with anaemia, glaucoma or a heart condition should not use poppers at all. It’s advised that you should not use poppers if you have taken Viagra as they can lead to a rapid drop in blood pressure which may cause the user to pass out, possibly resulting in damage to the brain and other organs.
There is no evidence of long-term psychological or physical damage as a direct result of poppers. However, poppers can make you feel less inhibited during sex, so you may make decisions you regret later, or be more likely to have rough sex. That can damage the lining of the ass, making you more open to infections. Some experts believe they way your your body reacts to poppers may make HIV and other sexually transmitted infections easier to catch. Possession of poppers isn’t illegal, but this is being looked at by the government and might change in the future. Poppers can be sold as 'room odourisers’ but not inhalants, as this would classify them as a medicine and require a pharmacy to dispense them. If you got arrested selling poppers as inhalants, you would be committing a civil offence .
