What they are
Usually come as a gold coloured liquid in a small bottle. They have a sweet smell when fresh which turns to a smell like dirty socks when stale. One type, amyl nitrate, first discovered in 1857 was used for many years as a medicine to treat angina. It originally came in a small glass capsule which was popped open. The name 'poppers' has stuck even though nitrates usually no longer come in this form and are rarely now used as medicines.
Street names
Names include amyl, butyl, climax, liquid gold, poppers, ram, rock, rush, snapper, stag, stud, thrust, TNT and many others.
How they are taken
Usually inhaled straight from the bottle or from a cloth.
Extent of use
They are sold in some sex shops, joke shops, clubs and pubs and also sometimes clothes and music shops which target young people. Also sold by mail order. They used to be mainly used by gay men but in the last few years use has grown among young people, particularly those who go to clubs. Some surveys have shown over 15% of 16 year olds claiming to have used them at least once. However, they are usually used on an occasional, rather than regular basis, often in combination with other drugs.
Effects of use
- Effects start quickly but only last a few minutes.
- Users feel a 'rush' as their heartbeat quickens and blood pressure falls.
- They often feel light headed, that time has slowed down. They may feel dizzy and lose balance.
- Some users get a pounding headache and feel sick.
- Users often say they feel sexually turned on.
Risks of use
- Users can collapse, especially if they are dancing or exerting themselves.
- Lack of co-ordination can lead to falling over and having accidents.
- Drinking poppers, instead of inhaling the vapours, can be very dangerous and has resulted in some deaths.
- They can be dangerous to use by people who have heart problems or the eye disease, glaucoma.
- Regular use can lead to skin problems around the nose and mouth.
- If people feel sexually turned on they may end up having sex when they don't really want to or not take precautions.
- Very few people become dependent on poppers. But some may come to rely on them to enjoy themselves.
- Tolerance may develop with regular use so more needs to be taken to get an effect.
The Law
Possession of poppers is not illegal but supply of certain types, such as amyl nitrate, can be an offence under the Medicines Act.
