(Aus) Sex drug known as ‘poppers’ may soon be in the same category as Heroin

[Chip (OP)]

source: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/sex/sex-drug-known-as-poppers-may-soon-be-placed-in-the-same-category-as-heroin-in-australia/news-story/ad15e759657aef96073b1e9120dd90c4

see also: https://www.change.org/p/therapeutic-goods-administration-tga-don-t-ban-poppers

Sex drug known as ‘poppers’ may soon be placed in the same category as heroin in Australia

AN INHALANT drug commonly used for sex and short recreational highs could soon be outlawed in Australia.

Amyl nitrite — also known as poppers — faces a ban in Australia after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) supported a proposal to outlaw the substance.

If the proposal is approved, the inhalant drug will be placed in the same category as heroin and cocaine, meaning those caught selling, using or in possession of the substance will likely face criminal charges.

Poppers currently operate in a legal “grey area” in Australia. While the sale of any product containing amyl nitrite or its related counterparts for recreational use is illegal, poppers are available for purchase behind the counter at many adult shops and bathhouses, surreptitiously labelled “leather cleaner” and “nail polish remover”.
Amyl nitrite was used to treat angina in the 1960s, but became a soft recreational drug from the mid-1970s onwards.

Inhaling the substance gives users a brief head-rush and creates a sense of euphoria by dilating the blood vessels.

This brings about a relaxation effect on involuntary smooth muscles, such as the throat and anus, which makes them popular for use during sex, particularly in the LGBTI community.
Common side-effects of the substance includes headaches, dizziness and temporary erectile dysfunction, but it’s not thought to create long-term issues unless the user has pre-existing health conditions.

Amyl nitrite — also known as poppers — faces a ban in Australia after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) supported a proposal to outlaw the substance.

If the proposal is approved, the inhalant drug will be placed in the same category as heroin and cocaine, meaning those caught selling, using or in possession of the substance will likely face criminal charges.

Poppers currently operate in a legal “grey area” in Australia. While the sale of any product containing amyl nitrite or its related counterparts for recreational use is illegal, poppers are available for purchase behind the counter at many adult shops and bathhouses, surreptitiously labelled “leather cleaner” and “nail polish remover”.
Amyl nitrite was used to treat angina in the 1960s, but became a soft recreational drug from the mid-1970s onwards.

Inhaling the substance gives users a brief head-rush and creates a sense of euphoria by dilating the blood vessels.

This brings about a relaxation effect on involuntary smooth muscles, such as the throat and anus, which makes them popular for use during sex, particularly in the LGBTI community.
Common side-effects of the substance includes headaches, dizziness and temporary erectile dysfunction, but it’s not thought to create long-term issues unless the user has pre-existing health conditions.
Poppers are often used for sex purposes.

But medical experts are divided over the substance, with some arguing it causes minimal harm in moderate amounts.
Earlier this year Dr Aifric Boylan, Australian GP and CEO of online doctor service Qoctor, told Vice News the substance was less harmful than other recreational drugs, and was not addictive.

It can, however, exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions.

“If a person is susceptible to glaucoma — a condition involving raised pressure in the eyes — amyl can make it worse,” she said. “And if a person has heart or circulation problems, the unpredictable changes in blood pressure can cause them to become seriously unwell. And if a person is on treatment for erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra, poppers can also cause seriously low blood pressure which may lead to stroke.”

According to the TGA’s formal report on the amendment, the risks involved in using the drug include “illicit use for euphoric and muscle relaxant effects, adverse events including maculopathy and methaemoglobinaemia”.

It says there are “no therapeutic benefits associated with the use of alkyl nitrites”, that they are “toxic via inhalation” and are “misused … as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties”.

Reformulation of the substance are legal for sale across most of western Europe, including the United Kingdom.

In the US, they are discretely available for purchase in adult stores.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey found 0.8 per cent of the population, or 184,000 people, in Australia had used in inhalant in 2013. This, however, was not limited to poppers, and may have included petrol and paint thinners.

Post Merged: September 25, 2018, 05:17:34 AMsource: https://www.tga.gov.au/book-page/13-alkyl-nitrites

The delegate's interim decision under regulation 42ZCZN of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (the Regulations) is to amend the current Poisons Standard in relation to alkyl nitrites and lubricants as follows:

Note

New text is shown as green, larger font, with a horizontal line above it.

Deleted text is shown as red, smaller font, with a strikethrough.

Schedule 4 - Delete Entries

AMYL NITRITE.

BUTYL NITRITE.

ISOAMYL NITRITE.

ISOBUTYL NITRITE.

OCTYL NITRITE.

Schedule 9 - New Entries

ALKYL NITRITES except those specifically listed elsewhere in these Schedules.

ISOPROPYL NITRITE.

PROPYL NITRITE.

CYCLOHEXANE NITRITE.

Schedule 9 - Entries moved from Schedule 4

AMYL NITRITE.

BUTYL NITRITE.

ISOAMYL NITRITE.

ISOBUTYL NITRITE.

OCTYL NITRITE.

Appendix A - Amend Entry

LUBRICANTS in preparations that provide a lubricating action between machinery parts, except soluble oils and solvent-deposited lubricating agents.

Proposed implementation date: 1 February 2019

Reasons

The matters under subsection 52E (1) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 considered relevant by the delegate for the decision include:

1. the risks and benefits of the use of a substance:
   • There are numerous risks of harm associated with alkyl nitrites.
   • Risks associated with the use of alkyl nitrites include illicit use for euphoric (perceived due to dilation of blood vessels in brain and periphery), analgesic and muscle relaxant effects.^[21]
   • Adverse events associated with the use of alkyl nitrites include methaemoglobinaemia and maculopathy.^{[21],[22],[23]} Complete recovery of visual function even after drug use is ceased is rare.^[24] According to a 2016 UK government report (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) there are around 30 published cases of ophthalmological damage associated with use of alkyl nitrites.
   • Alkyl nitrites are toxic via inhalation. Toxicity includes tachycardia, hypotension, headache, flushing, dizziness, nausea, and syncope.^[25] Co-use with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors can lead to severe hypotension.
   • Increased risk of cardiovascular harm when used in conjunction with other vasodilators.
   • Alkyl nitrites are sweet-smelling liquids and pose a risk to child safety through cases of accidental ingestion.
   • There appears to be an increasing trend with time in the use and abuse of volatile alkyl nitrites, with a 56% increase in exposures from 2009 to 2014 according to statistics collected from Australian Poisons Information Centres.
   • Over an eleven year period (2004-2014), Australian Poisons Information Centres received 273 calls about alkyl nitrite exposures:
     • 3.7% of calls (10 cases) which involved accidental paediatric exposures.
     • Hospitalisation was required in 72.5% of all cases with almost all of these requiring a clinical toxicology consultant, indicating high perceived risk or severity.
     • 15% (41 cases) of the hospital admitted patients presented with methaemoglobinaemia, with 14 requiring treatment with the antidote, methylene blue.
   • There are no therapeutic benefits associated with the use of alkyl nitrites other than amyl nitrite, which may be used as an alternative antidote for cyanide poisoning in the event that IV access or first line antidotes are not immediately available.
   • Industry stakeholders have not identified any current use of alkyl nitrites and have indicated that the proposed changes to the Poisons Standard with respect to alkyl nitrites and lubricants will therefore not impact their current products.
2. the purposes for which a substance is to be used and the extent of use of a substance:
   • Commonly misused alkyl nitrites include amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite, with more recent variations including isopropyl and cyclohexyl nitrite.
   • Alkyl nitrites have little to no therapeutic use. There are no products on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) that contain alkyl nitrites. There are no agricultural products or veterinary medicines containing any nitrite listed on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's PubCRIS database.
   • Volatile nitrites were historically used to treat angina^[26] however they have been replaced by other medications.
   • There is limited and superseded therapeutic use for amyl nitrite as an antidote for cyanide poisoning. Current alternative treatment recommendations for cyanide poisoning include sodium thiosulfate plus hydroxocobalamin, or sodium nitrite plus sodium thiosulfate.^[27]
   • Alkyl nitrites are largely used recreationally as 'party drugs'. There has been an increase in the use and abuse of alkyl nitrites in Australia over recent years. According to the most recent 2017 report of the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS)^[28] recent users of alkyl nitrites was reported in 25% of study participants.
3. the toxicity of a substance:
   • Alkyl nitrites are toxic via inhalation. Toxicity includes tachycardia, hypotension, headache, flushing, dizziness, nausea, and syncope.^[29] Co-use with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors can lead to severe hypotension.
   • Increased risk of cardiovascular harm when used in conjunction with other vasodilators.
   • Inhalation of alkyl nitrites can lead to methaemoglobinaemia and even death, with significantly increased risk if ingested. Methaemoglobinaemia is potentially life threatening if not treated appropriately.^[23]
   • Alkyl nitrites can cause chemical burns to the skin and eyes on direct contact. Other risks of alkyl nitrites include maculopathy and skin lesions.
5. the potential for abuse of a substance:
   • There is a high potential for misuse and abuse of alkyl nitrites for euphoric properties, and as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties.
   • The misuse and abuse of alkyl nitrites appears to be in particular sections of the community rather than widespread.
6. any other matters that the Secretary considers necessary to protect public health:
   • Exemptions from scheduling for lubricants were first proposed in 1965 and in 1969 and 'motor fuels and lubricants' were included in the list of exemptions at this time. Amendments to the Appendix A lubricant entry will clarify its intent, restricting the Appendix A exemption under the Poisons Standard to machinery use, not personal care use.
   • Feedback from those supplying industrial machinery lubricants did not identify any problems with the proposed new wording for the Appendix A entry.

Table 1.3: Chemical information for volatile alkyl nitrites

Chemical	CAS number	IUPAC and/or common and/or other names	Molecular formula and weight	Chemical structure
General information for volatile alkyl nitrites	N/A	N/A	R-NO2
Amyl nitrite	110-46-3	3-Methylbutanol nitrite; isoamyl nitrite; nitrous acid, 3-methylbutyl ester; nitrous acid, isopentyl ester	C5H11NO2 117.1 g/mol
Isopropyl nitrite	541-42-4	2-Propanol nitrite; isopropylester kyseliny dusite; nitrous acid, 1-methylethyl ester	C3H7NO2 89.1 g/mol
N-Propyl nitrite	543-67-9	Nitrous acid, n-propyl ester; propanol nitrite; propyl nitrite	C3H7NO2 89.1 g/mol
Cyclohexyl nitrite	5156-40-1	Nitrous acid, cyclohexyl ester; N-cyclohexyl nitrite; cyclohexyl alcohol nitrite; C-hexyl nitrite; O-nitrosocyclohexanol	C6H11NO2 129.2 g/mol

[Chip (OP)]

i have given my bottle "FxxK PIG" a good old workout and guess what ? yep:

Tolerance to amyl nitrite (amyl nitrite inhalant) may develop with repeated use of the drug for prolonged periods of time. Tolerance may be minimized by beginning with the smallest effective dose and alternating the drug with another coronary vasodilator.

🙁

[Fluffhead]

Is this legal in the states? Would be curious to try it.

[Multi Morph]

“Poppers” was a term used to describe the popping sound when you crushed an ampoules of Amyl Nitrate between your fingers. It was encased in a silk sachet. They were prescription only for some cardiac problems.  Back in the early to mid 1970’s my cousin, a nurse used to get them out of the hospital where she worked. Nowadays the chemical is usually n, butyl nitrite labeled as “locker room” or “rush”. It is available at head shops, some newspaper/magazines shops and gay paraphernalia establishments. As long as the labeling doesn’t suggest human consumption, it is apparently legal

[Joseph Hopeless]

Yeah, always wanted to try these..I've read they've always been real popular in the gay communities around the world, and I remember "Jim Morrison" does 'em in that "The Doors Movie"..Always figured they were like nitrous? I've never even heard 'em mentioned in the states, tho.

[Chip (OP)]

it feel like a dissociative, a bit. like Ketamine etc.

it only lasts a few seconds, maybe 30 ... a feels a bit wierd.

definitely not addictive.

[radioactive_man]

Let's see a show of hands.

How many people have seen the classic John Waters flick Pink Flamingo?

Remember the birthday party scene with that dood that did the whistling butthole trick?

They were all on poppers.

imdb said it was right before they made that shit illegal.

I want some too.

Chip if you make me swear off meth I can at least huff drugs and stick stuff in my butt.

I was having some abdominal pain and thought it could be serious.

My wife made me go to the walk in clinic.

The NP wanted to check my butt for hemorrhoids, so she shoved fingers in my butt.

What a waste of $65.

[Chip (OP)]

if you wonder what the attraction of poppers are for the gay scene then let me tell really for is that they relax the sphincter muscles.

the "high" is a really weird one - it's not exactly pleasant but still short and profound.

tolerance does develop also.

@radioactive_man, I'm not stopping anyone from using Meth but it's like the rest of the very addictive substances: do you really need another expensive craving and dependence that you didn't have ?

inhalants don't have a good reputation and i gave away my last bottle to a gay friend, it's a bit like that.