Poppers

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.^[2] Its 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.^[3][4]

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.^[2]

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.^[2] 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.

Poppers act as muscle relaxants, causing the relaxation of involuntary smooth muscles such as the throat and anus.^[5][6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8][9]