User:Ktashkulov/Poppers

Poppers and Sex Risks
The use of poppers in combination with anal sex, mostly by gay men, shows a trend where users are more likely to have and transmit or more likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Though these correlations cannot be confirmed as they have not been tested in clinical trials. Abuse of poppers may cause a temporary loss of social inhibitions and therefore could lead to a poor practice of sexual practices, such as using less protection. Using poppers in conjunction with other drugs only increases the chance that one would practice unsafe sexual practices. People that already practice high-risk sexual behavior will have a higher chance of continued high-risk sexual behavior if poppers and other drugs are used.

Cyanide Treatment
Amyl nitrites are a part of one of the United States cyanide standard kits used to treat cyanide poisoning. The Lilly Cyanide Antidote Kit was the first cyanide kit available in the US and was the only approved kit for a long time. The kit contained amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate. The nitrites themselves were administered to produce methemoglobin and induce vasodilation. Amyl nitrites were discontinued in 2012 in standard cyanide kits along with the Lilly Cyanide Antidote Kit itself, possibly due to the toxicity present. The US standard antidote kit now uses hydroxocobalmin that are found in Cyanokits.

19th-Century discovery
Amyl nitrites were originally enclosed in a glass mesh called "pearls". The usual administration of these pearls was done by crushing them between the fingers; this was followed up by a popping sound. This administration process seems to be the origin of the slang term "poppers". It was then administered by direct inhalation of the vapours or inhalation through silk that covered the capsule. Brunton found that amyl nitrites had effects of dilating blood vessels and flushing of the face. Butyl nitrites were also documented around the late 1890s by Brunton and despite being found to have generally the same effects of amyl nitrites, they were never used as a clinical alternative to amyl nitrates. Brunton also found that propyl nitrites had the same effects as well.

21st-century Presence
Poppers have seen widespread use among swingers, circuit parties , and are seen as a "club-drug"

Japan and Poppers
In 2007, numerous compounds and one plant were listed as designated substances or narcotics. Six of these compounds were alkyl nitrites that were listed as designated substances. After this new designation, the distribution of the alkyl nitrates in the illegal drug market drastically went down. In 2014, the classification of designated substances was changed to "dangerous drugs" in the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. This was to define substances that have high probabilities of nervous system stimulation, suppression, or hallucination.

Alkyl Nitrates are listed as a part of Japan's "Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act". This act requires for manufacturers, importers, and distributors of the substances listed under this act to acquire a license and be registered under this act before engaging in said relevant business practices. It also requires that the persons under this act to comply and meet the standards set for storing, containing, labelling, transferring, and storing equipment of the substances. Most of the alkyl nitrates are listed under this act including isobutyl nitrites, amyl nitrites, butyl nitrites, methyl nitrites, and isopropyl nitrites.

US and Poppers:
Can be sold as "commercial products" that do not have the intent of inhalation or other ways of introducing nitrites to the human body. Due to this, they are often marketed as room deodorizers, incense, and other commercially appropriate products.

There was a huge increase in the number of brands for butyl nitrites after the FDA put in the prescription requirement again in 1969.

Butyl nitrites were outlawed in 1988 by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. This prompted distributors to sell other alkyl nitrates not yet banned, like ispropyl nitrites. In 1990, isopropyl nitrites and other nitrites not yet banned were outlawed by the Crime Control Act of 1990. Both of these laws include an "exception for commercial purpose, defined as any use other than for the production of consumer products containing volatile alkyl nitrites meant for inhaling or otherwise introducing volatile alkyl nitrites into the human body for euphoric or physical effects"(Taken from article).