Had it not been for strong advocates in parliament who worked hard to keep this drug (and several others) legal, the liquid substance may very well have been executed. Not so long ago, poppers almost became banned in the UK. Once exclusive to the gay community, poppers have now become popularized among men and women who identify as straight. Popular in dance clubs during paleo-gay eraīack in the 1970’s (paleo-gay era), poppers were all the rage at the discos and bathhouses, where gay men took “hits” off the tiny bottles to amplify the experience of music and dance. Over the years, they the actual liquid inside of the bottles have contained amyl nitrate, isoamyl nitrite and isopentyl nitrite, respectively. When you peel away the slang, poppers are really a broad based term used to describe a chemical class known as alkyl nitrites. It became popularized after many men described an exhilarating “pop” shortly after inhalation.
The term “poppers” became woven into gay lexicon during the late 1960’s. As you will find out, they do.Īre you ready? Let’s jump right in! Poppers Facts 1. That’s not to say nitrates don’t present certain health risks. Related: Weed and sex: Pros and Cons revealedīefore continuing, it’s important to keep in mind that within the universe of “party favors” that people sometimes use to amplify sex, poppers are considered among the least dangerous.