What Is Poppers Addiction?
What is poppers addiction? Read on to learn more about poppers addiction, its use, and how Soledad House can help.
What Are Poppers?
Poppers are a liquid drug that can be inhaled to provide an instant high. They are also known as amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, and liquid gold. They produce a variety of sensations, including dizziness, warmness, boosted heart rate, and headaches.
What Are Poppers Used For?
Poppers are commonly used recreationally for their euphoric effects. They can also be used as a sexual enhancer as they relax the anal muscles. They are also sometimes marketed commercially as room deodorizers or leather cleaners.
Types of Harmful Chemicals Used in Poppers
Poppers dangers are due to the poppers ingredients they contain. These include:1
Are Poppers Dangerous?
Poppers' dangers are many. They can change heart rhythms. They also cause the body to produce too much methemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells. These effects make them potentially fatal.
The drugs can also lead to poppers brain damage and poppers eye damage.
They can lead to risky sexual behavior, which increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. They are particularly dangerous when mixed with certain poppers erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and Cialis.
Are Poppers Legal?
If you are wondering, are poppers drugs legal? Yes, they are. They can be found on various websites for purchase. However, steps are being taken to keep poppers usage under control. The FDA has issued a warning to consumers not to buy poppers. It is also illegal for businesses to sell them for human consumption in accordance with the Medicines Act 1968.3
Poppers cause the body to produce too much methemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells. It also produces rapid and irregular heart rhythms. It causes blood pressure to drop, causing headaches and dizziness. Studies show that the chemicals in poppers bad for the brain, causing difficulties with learning and memory.4
Poppers’ effects wear off in seconds or minutes.
Dangers of Poppers Addiction
Poppers are not safe to consume; they can lead to a variety of harmful conditions. These detrimental effects will be detailed below.
Chemical Burns
Poppers are highly flammable and can cause chemical burns.
Eye Damage
Studies have shown that poppers can damage the retina and cause ocular clouding.
Medication Interactions
Poppers are particularly dangerous when mixed with erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra or Cialis.
High-Risk Situations
People who take the poppers drug are more likely to engage in risky sexual activity that increases the likelihood of STDs.
Methemoglobinemia
Poppers drugs cause the body to produce an excess of methemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells. This can lead to a potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia.
Poppers Side Effects
Poppers drugs effects include the following:

What Are the Risks of Using Poppers?
There are many risks associated with using poppers. These will be detailed further below.
Short-Term Risks
Listed below are the short-term risks of using poppers:
Long-Term Risks
Listed below are the long-term risks of using poppers:
How Soledad Can Help Reduce Poppers Usage
If you use poppers often, you will likely develop a poppers addiction. Rehab can help by addressing the underlying cause of your dependency issues.
Soledad House
Soledad House is a recovery home for women located in beautiful San Diego, California. We offer treatment for all types of substance abuse issues. We use a dual diagnosis approach that addresses addiction and its underlying cause. We can also suggest a safe alternative to poppers.
Don’t let poppers or any other drug reduce your quality of life. Contact Soledad House today. We will get you on a path to happier, healthier living.
Contact Soledad House to Learn More
Our team is standing by to discuss treatment options with you. Your call is completely confidential and no obligation is required.
Resources
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/amyl-nitrite-inhalation-route/side-effects/drg-20061803?p=1#:~:text=Amyl%20nitrite%20can%20catch%20fire,worse%2C%20check%20with%20your%20doctor.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/butyl-nitrite#:~:text=In%20human%2C%20butyl%20nitrite%20exposure,misused%20during%20recreational%20drug%20misadventures
- https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-nitrite-poppers
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26971703/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11366577/#:~:text=AIDS%3A%20Evidence%20from%20studies%20in,respond%20to%20antigen%2Dspecific%20stimulation.