The history of poppers dates back in the 19th century, but it became increasingly popular in the 20th century. It was during the 1960s that the first case of the drug being used for recreational purposes was documented. The period was known as the disco era. It was until the 1970s that poppers became popular in the gay community. The Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal reported, in the late 1970s, that the drug was famous in the gay community as a way to make sexual experiences more pleasurable. Today, popper use is common among other users as well. In this blog, you will know The History of Poppers.
Overview of Poppers
Poppers refer to a slang name referring to psychoactive drugs known as alkyl nitrites. The mode of use is through inhaling. The drugs also have the names: liquid gold and heart medicine. Poppers are popular for the “high” feeling and excitement they bring upon users. Upon the usage of the drug, the effects manifest very fast, almost instantaneously. Legislation differs amongst countries, for example poppers UK and US sales are available, whereas Australia this is banned for sale.
How Are They Used?
Poppers are used for recreational purposes especially in the gay community. Users have to inhale the drug to introduce it to the body system. They have to inhale fumes from bottles. Apart from taking the drug as a sexual enhancer, users also take it for an immediate excitement or for intense relaxation.
The Effects of Poppers
It’s important to begin by pointing out that poppers react with the body very fast. Upon reaction with a user’s body system, there’s an almost immediate high’ of warm sensations similar to that of a person who has taken alcohol. It’s also worth noting that the effects don’t stay for a long time. They stay for a few seconds or minutes in the body. Poppers lead to the dilation of blood vessels, which causes a user’s blood pressure to drop. This causes lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. It also causes the heart to speed up as well as the relaxation of the anal sphincter.
Side Effects
There are several side effects of poppers that have been documented. Here are the side effects of poppers that you should know about:
Headaches
Skin lesions around the nose and lips
Allergic reactions
Breathing difficulties
Eye damage
An important point to note here is that different users have different reactions with the drug and, therefore, the side effects can vary from one person to another. For example, there are those who have allergic reactions while others don’t have such.
Who Uses Them?- History of Poppers
The majority of those who use poppers are people in the gay community. The reason as to why it’s popular among them is because of its capacity to enhance sexual experiences. While popper use is prevalent in the gay community, other people in the mainstream society are also using it. Most of the people who take poppers do so to have feelings of excitement and relaxation in their bodies.
Since the discovery of popper use, the drug has been growing in popularity. It’s one of the recreational drugs that most users find it easy to access.