Popper: What It Is And What Are The Effects Of This Drug
Drug use is something common, and is not exclusive to the youngest. This habit is not something recent either, since since ancient times human beings have already consumed all types of psychoactive substances. For example, the Mayans are known to have used mushrooms, peyote and ayahuasca centuries ago.
The effects of drugs can be pleasurable and make us live hallucinatory and, in some cases, hallucinogenic experiences; However, normally these substances are either harmful to health or have great risks and can cause negative consequences in the life of the consumer. In this article we will focus on a substance known as popper
Drugs are usually divided into three categories based on the effects they produce. They can act only as stimulants, depressants or hallucinogens (known as psychedelics). Very few substances have mixed effects and these can be described as stimulant hallucinogens (e.g. ecstasy or ketamine) or as depressive hallucinogens (e.g. cannabis).
Depressant drugs make the user feel relaxed and calm and often slow heart rate and breathing. They include alcohol (in high doses), tranquilizers, heroin or cannabis. hallucinogens distort reality of the subject who consumes these substances in different ways: his sense of movement or time may be altered or he may suffer sensory distortions and hallucinations (for example, visual or auditory). They include LSD or mushrooms.
Stimulants make the user feel alert and full of energy. In turn, blood pressure increases and vasodilation occurs. This group includes cocaine, amphetamines and poppers
The term popper is colloquially used, and is used to refer to a varied range of psychoactive drugs that include, among some active ingredients, alkyl nitrites or amyl nitrite. They are consumed by inhalation and are for recreational use. This drug too It is known as liquid gold, bananas, snappers, rush and other trade names such as Stud or Locker Room.
Characteristics of this substance
The most common type of popper is the one containing amyl nitrite, which is often confused with amyl nitrate which is used as an additive in diesel fuel, where it acts to improve ignition thanks to the acceleration of fuel ignition. Now, the popper can also contain isopropyl nitrite, 2-propyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and alkyl nitrite.
The term “popper” began to be used after the popularity of some of these chemical compounds when they were used as drugs. For example, amyl nitrite It has been used in medicine for its vasodilating and stimulating effect for the treatment of angina pectoris.
What effects does the popper produce?
Although this drug is rarely used to treat heart problems today, poppers are still consumed. As a medical use, amyl nitrite is still used to treat cyanide poisoning
As a recreational substance, the popper produces stimulation and vasodilation very quickly when inhaled, as well as a feeling of euphoria and sexual desire. At the same time It causes a relaxation of the sphincters, and is therefore known as a sexual drug or “gay drug.”
In summary, its effects are:
The pleasurable effects of the drug occur shortly after taking it and last only 2 or 3 minutes. Instead, side effects can be long-lasting and may include: nausea, dizziness, headaches, red eyes, congestion in the face and neck, loss of appetite, nosebleeds, tachycardia, hypotension and breathing disorders.
Poppers can also be used as a complement to other designer drugs, such as LSD and ecstasy, which can cause more intense sensations and effects, but also serious risks of poisoning
A popular drug among the gay community
Amyl nitrite It was first synthesized in 1844 by Antoine Jérôme Balard and was popularized as a treatment for angina by Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton. But it did not begin to be used as a recreational drug until the 1960s, initially in the gay community, as this group realized that this drug helped them feel mentally and physically good, increased their sexual arousal and encouraged the practice of sex. anal, making it less painful and more pleasurable.
Thus, poppers are widely used as recreational drugs, especially in the gay scene, and are typically inhaled directly from small bottles. It is a cheap and easy drug to acquire, they can often be sold as air fresheners or as sexual enhancers.
Recent research examined the use of this drug among homosexuals. Apparently, while the use of other substances such as crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and ketamine have decreased recently, the use of poppers and cocaine has remained stable.
This psychoactive substance became part of the gay scene in the most successful times of disco music, that is, the 70s, and was very popular during the 80s and 90s. However, heterosexuals also consume it for its effects. . Studies show that in the UK 14.9% of university students and 12.8% of medical students have used this drug recreationally. Furthermore, in this country there seems to be great concern about the recent increase in inhaled drug use among adolescents, among them, the popper.
