Why poppers

All my emails went ignored. Next, I searched the US Patent and Trademark Office database, figuring any company angry about knockoffs probably has a registered trademark.

Sure enough, there was the Rush lightning bolt , registered to Pac-West Distributing. Its date of first use traced all the way back to Dec. When I looked into Pac-West, I stumbled on a series of lawsuits and countersuits between the company and a business in Pennsylvania that had been filed in federal court in There, printed in full color — no doubt for the benefit of a judge who probably did not go to law school for this — were pictures of various brands: Iron Horse, Rush, Gold Rush, and Super Rush.

But the filings describe the products only as cleaners, incense, or nail polish removers. I spent weeks reaching out to the companies and their attorneys.

I dug up home numbers for those named in the litigation. No one wanted to talk. Then I dialed the Pennsylvania business one final time. So I said, Fuck it. I am the one. They contain alkyl nitrites, chemical compounds that consist of nitrogen, oxygen, and alkyls. An alkyl is a carbon molecule with hydrogen molecules attached to it, and the number of carbons is crucial because it will determine the boiling point of the substance, explained Rick Sachleben, a member of the American Chemical Society.

The ideal number of carbons is four or five, producing butyl and amyl nitrites, respectively. As the nitrites vaporize and their scent is inhaled, the human body converts the chemicals to nitric oxide, which causes the blood vessels to relax and expand, leading to a drop in blood pressure. When Sachleben was in college in the s, people were using poppers as party drugs. For decades, amyl nitrites were originally sold in individual glass ampoules that had to be crushed or popped in order to be inhaled, hence the name.

But by the s, nitroglycerin tablets replaced amyl nitrites as the preferred treatment for angina and the medical market all but dried up — until savvy manufacturers realized other customers were already buying the product for a different use.

Sensing a huge commercial opportunity, two entrepreneurial gay men seized their chance. But the biggest player arrived two years later, when W. Jay Freezer founded Pacific Western Distributing in San Francisco and began selling Rush, a name he came up with based on the brief dizzying sensation poppers can arouse.

Above all, Freezer was a salesperson. He blanketed the nascent LGBTQ press with advertisements featuring Tom of Finland—esque illustrations of burly, shirtless men pumping gas in suggestive ways.

She remembered Freezer flying down in a jet to visit, usually accompanied by a different lover, taking the Marburg team out to dinners and bringing gifts for her young daughter. Freezer was one of the first openly gay men she had ever met. It is also possible for poppers to cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

Some experts suggest that using poppers may lead to risky sexual activity, increasing the chances of contracting HIV. Also, research from links long-term poppers use in men who have sex with men to a higher risk of cancers related to viruses and sexually transmitted infections.

The participants did not have HIV. Some people mix poppers with erectile dysfunction medication, such as sildenafil Viagra and tadalafil Cialis. This can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, which can be fatal.

Mixing poppers with alcohol is also unsafe and can result in a dangerous drop in blood pressure. In addition, alcohol can increase the risk of adverse effects such as dizziness and lightheadedness. People typically use poppers for a pleasurable feeling of intoxication or euphoria, but some find the experience unpleasant and disorientating.

Poppers primarily act as vasodilators, which means that they expand blood vessels. Having dilated blood vessels can cause:.

Poppers also relax the muscles around the anus. Other research suggests that substance use in general — whether poppers, cocaine, or other club drugs — increases the risk of unprotected sex, and thus the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

The research, however, was unable to show poppers were more risky than other drugs. If you have a heart condition or blood pressure issues, consult with your doctor about potential dangers you may face if you use poppers or other recreational drugs.

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Part of the fear of HIV comes from lack of education. Understanding the facts can prevent misinformation — and HIV — from spreading.

If you've been tested for HIV, or if you're considering an HIV test, you may have questions about the accuracy of the results. When users get the liquid in their eye it is very painful. This requires prompt first aid of flushing with plenty of water. If discomfort continues, users should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Poppers are also very flammable. You should never try to heat up a bottle of alkyl nitrite or have an open bottle near a flame or lit cigarette. People sometimes dip cigarettes in poppers to inhale through the unlit cigarette. Some have been burnt after mistakenly lighting the cigarette. Poppers lower blood pressure and increase heart rate. It could be more risky for people with heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure.

There could also be added risks for people with glaucoma or anaemia. Poppers taken with any drug that affects blood pressure could be risky. This includes any blood pressure medication and the erection inducing drugs such as sildenafil Viagra. With poppers such drugs can dangerously affect blood pressure and heart rate causing a person to faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke. Poppers are not thought to be physically addictive in any way.

After using poppers consistently to enhance sex, a few people have reported feeling reliant on them in order to perform sexually. If this happens, avoiding the drug for a while should allow normal sexual response to return. Most of the harms of poppers are associated with excessive use e. Avoiding poppers or limiting your use is the most important step to minimise harm.

Drinking an alkyl nitrite can cause organ failure, blindness, brain damage or death. If you or someone you know has drunk an alkyl nitrite they should get emergency hospital treatment. You should keep all poppers away from flames, lit cigarettes, or anything which could ignite them. Getting alkyl nitrite on your skin causes irritation and dermatitis.

If you get it on your skin you should rinse it off with plenty of water. The Cocaine Vape - A concept of a harm reduction device for current users of smokable cocaine forms. Supervised Injection Facilities.

Drug Checking — The Evidence is Building! Building a Career in Drug Science. Drug Testing and Synthetic Cannabis in Prisons. Drug Science is an independent, science-led drugs charity.