What are poppers that gay men use
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Participants in a modern study have reported a small but growing and worrisome trend among some gay American men. Often described as a novel way to use poppers or as huffing poppers, in fact, the apply is simply inhaling biological solvents or propellants. This practice appears to include been going on for several years but may be increasing.
“Poppers” originally referred to recreational use of amyl nitrite, a substance that triggers production of nitric oxide and thereby produces a potent impact of widening of the blood vessels. It has been used to intensify sexual experience through relaxing smooth muscle and its mild psychoactive effects. Since the 1980s, amyl nitrite has been restricted to medical uses in the United States and Europe, but a number of related alkyl nitrites persist to be available in legal or semi-legal form.
The current trend does not involve the conventional poppers, which are inhaled directly from a bottle, typically in smaller amounts. The new huffing of solvents and propellants carries substantially greater risk both for death and for long-term neurocognitive damage than does the use of nitrite poppers. These new products now appear to be ma
Poppers
What's the Score?
Poppers are also known as: amyl/butyl/isobutyl nitrite, amyl (especially in Australia, where it's promounced 'ammul'), aromas and by brand names enjoy Liquid Gold, Rush, etc. They're often (but wrongly) called 'nitrates', which is a similar, but diverse chemical.
Poppers are a liquid made from chemicals from the alkyl nitrite family. The name comes from the days when they came in glass capsules that popped when broken open.
Sex on Poppers
Poppers can build you feel horny, decrease your inhibitions and produce orgasms feel stronger. Because they relax the sphincter (the muscle in the arse hole) poppers can make it easier to be fucked or fisted. They can cause a man to lose his hard-on too.
Research shows poppers might play an important role in HIV being passed on. The reasons could be:
- poppers can lower inhibitions, making unsafe sex more likely
- there's a bigger uncertainty of the arse bleeding (poppers expand blood vessels inside the arse)
- and/or poppers might make the immune system weaker for a short time, so that people are more open to infection.
It's thought the biggest uncertainty of HIV being transmit
The twisty, titillating, controversial history of queer sex drug poppers
You'll recognize it if you smell it. "Nail polish remover with a hint of permanent marker." "Photo chemicals." "It's hard to depict the smell, but I know I hate it."
These Reddit users – of the subreddit "Ask Gay Men" – are talking about poppers, alkyl nitrite inhalants that many same-sex attracted men sniff from little bottles in order to notice euphoric on the dance floor and/or loosen up before anal sex. They may "hate" the smell, but that isn't stopping them, either.
"It's just a momentary high prefer that's like a minute- or two long, every second you sniff," says Adam Zmith, writer of "Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Gender non-conforming Futures."
Poppers as a gay sex drug dates back to the 1960s in the U.S. People joke that you can smell the poppers "through the screen" when perusing social media footage of gay men jiving, gyrating. Troye Sivan's song "Rush," for example, shares a name with a poppers brand.
But that euphoric, sexual feeling – which comes from sniffing chemical compounds called nitrites – isn't always so euphoric or sexual. It can be unsafe in excess (though many users don't realize it or care – or both).
NeedIs alkyl nitrite (poppers) safe?
People typically use poppers for a pleasurable feeling of intoxication or euphoria, but some find the encounter unpleasant and disorientating.
Poppers primarily act as vasodilators, which means that they enlarge blood vessels. Having dilated blood vessels can cause:
- a sudden drop in blood pressure
- dizziness
- an increased heart rate
- lightheadedness
- warm sensations throughout the body
If blood pressure drops too low, it may generate fainting or a decline of consciousness.
Poppers also rest the muscles around the anus. Some people record that using poppers enhances their pleasure from anal sex. However, the drug can also reduce the ability to get an erection.
Poppers may cause other unwanted effects, such as:
- Headaches: Because poppers cause blood vessels in the thinker to widen, headaches can result. They can vary in intensity and may persist after the euphoric effects of the drug wear off.
- Respiratory reactions: Inhaling strong chemicals, such as poppers, can affect breathing and other functions of the respiratory tract, foremost to sinus problems and wheezing.
- Allergic reactions: Scented poppers can cause problems for pe
Source: Iakov Filimonov/Dreamstime
Participants in a new review have reported a small but growing and worrisome trend among some queer American men. Often described as a new way to use poppers or as huffing poppers, in fact, the practice is simply inhaling organic solvents or propellants. This practice appears to have been going on for several years, but may be increasing.
“Poppers” originally referred to the recreational use of amyl nitrite, a substance that triggers the production of nitric oxide and thereby produces a potent effect of the widening of the blood vessels. It has been used to augment the sexual life through relaxing smooth muscle and its mild psychoactive effects. Since the 1980s, amyl nitrite has been restricted to medical uses in the United States and Europe, but a number of related alkyl nitrites continue to be available in a legal or semi-legal form.
The current trend does not involve the conventional poppers, which are inhaled directly from a bottle, typically in smaller amounts. The new huffing of solvents and propellants carries substantially greater risk, both for death and for long-term neurocognitive injure, than does the use of nitrite popper