Poppers

[Smiley]

A few of my mates have been sniffing something called poppers. I've heard its a mild kind of speed. Can anyone tell me exactly what it is, does, and how dangerous it is? Also does anyone know of any sites that will really put people off the idea of drugs?

[Numbers]

http://www.talktofrank.com/azofdrugs/P/Poppers.asp
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[chrisbailey]

Unfortunately, it is difficult to change many peoples' views on taking drugs. Having experienced being the 'outsider' when my friends turned to drugs, I can understand how you must feel, but trying to change their opinion may turn them against you. Poppers themselves can kill or have other adverse side effects.

[dave101]

poppers are definitly not a mild type of speed..- its imposable to put poppers in the same catogy as speed and xtc.-its a totally diferent ball game.. all poppers will do is give you a head rush for 30 seconds or so. imagine gettin up really quickly or going upside down on a rollercoaster..i dont think there that much harm they can do. however they are pretty pointless.

[Tat]

they are (allegedly) used by gay men for anal sex as they act as a muscle relaxant... bet that'll put you're mate off! they are also nasty - did it a bit when i was younger and you feel odd and like you're speeding for about a minute then you get a massive headache and everything looks abit yellow! NASTY! drugs are bad remeber kids!

[saffstar]

'Poppers' are amyl nitrate. This substance is prescribed to people with angina to widen the blood vessels during an angina attack. So it's probably not the best idea to use them if you don't need this to happen, especially if you've got other heart problems.

[jamwalls]

Ahhh poppers, now that certainly takes me back. Most of what you asked has already been answered but a bit of background as well. Prevelant in the 70's gay disco world of San Fransisco, Amyl Nitrate was discovered to give a temporary buzz when sniffed through a bottle, which was great for dancing to. The reason it became more associated with Gay men, was because it also gives a hightend sense of anything sexual due to the speeding up of the heart rate. It also relaxes the Spinchter muscle as someone else mentioned which made anal sex easier. However now a lot of straight couples use it as well during sex to get that instant buzz. Due to a loophole in the UK law, Poppers (or aromas as they are normally called now) are still available and are still legal. It isn't Amyl nitrate anymore however, it has been replaced by an even more synthetic mixture called something nitrate, my mind forgets! It isn't in the same category as speed as it isn't an amphetimine based drug and the effects are extremely short term, however the main side effects are a cracking headache on the come down which is enough to put people off (you get a buzz for 30 seconds and then the worst ice cream headache for 10 minutes afterwards!), irritation under the nose, looking red, sometimes even scabs because the liquid is strongly corrosive and repeated "sniffing" through the bottle can leave the residue under your nose long enough to result in a small burn. And finally the smell, trust me it aint a bed of roses and it only takes one time to have someone nudge your arm and you pour the bottle on your clothes to know that this smell is here to stay! Thats an unbiased report for you, hope it helps