Introduction to Poppers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on poppers, a product that has long existed in legal limbo. Stores up and down Santa Monica Boulevard have seen a run on the iconic red and yellow vials this week. The active ingredient in Rush and other poppers is alkyl nitrite, a chemical that instantly dilates blood vessels when inhaled, producing a brief but intense feeling of euphoria.
History of Poppers
Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed — with a wink and a nod — as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner. Amyl nitrites emerged in the 19th century as an early treatment for chest pain and asthma attacks. According to a 2024 paper in the California Law Review, they were made over the counter in the ’60s, then taken back under prescription at a manufacturer’s request after gay nurses helped popularize recreational use.
The FDA Crackdown
The FDA raided a popular brand called Double Scorpio this month, many fear the Trump administration is ending the era of tolerance. Within days of the Double Scorpio raid, rival brands such as Pig Sweat, Brown Bottle and Dumb Bitch Juice have also become scarce, many retailers said. “People are calling asking if we’re out,” said Sandy, a cashier at Smoke 4 Less, who gave only her first name because she wasn’t authorized to speak to the press. “They’re stocking up. Right now we’re capped at 10 at a time, just to keep it fair.”
Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community
Roughly a third of gay men have used poppers, and about 20% have used them in the last three months, according to a 2020 report in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and a 2018 study in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services. “I describe it to people as a muscle relaxant,” Edward, a clerk at Circus of Books in West Hollywood, said. “It helps with anal sex for people whose bodies are more sensitive.” The bottles are popular enough to enjoy pride of place beside the cash register, and top billing on Circus of Books’ Instagram grid.
Effects of Poppers
The inhalant has also grown more popular with women, many of whom see it as a safer alternative to cannabis and alcohol, sellers and experts said. “A lot of girls use it before they go out partying,” Edward said. “It’s a body high, but it doesn’t affect your mentality like marijuana does.” However, information about what the substance is or how to take it is scant. As it moves into new markets, problems have emerged. “We’re seeing an increase in ingestion-related poisonings — people drinking poppers,” said Dr. Joseph J. Palamar, an associate professor in population health at NYU Langone Health.
Health Risks
Sniffing alkyl nitrites can cause skin irritation, dizziness, low blood pressure, headaches and other unpleasant side effects. Drinking them — even in tiny amounts — causes a type of blood poisoning that turns victims blue from sudden hypoxia. “Even a couple drops are enough to make you sick,” Palamar said. The FDA first warned consumers not to confuse poppers for energy drinks in 2021. By 2024, the problem was significant enough that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began distributing signs saying “DO NOT DRINK POPPERS” to bodegas that sell them.
Conclusion
The FDA crackdown on poppers has prompted a rush on the popular gay party drug. While the FDA has cracked down on poppers in the past, many fear that this time it’s different. The Trump administration has taken action on a range of gay and transgender issues, and the crackdown on poppers may be part of a broader campaign against LGBTQ+ people. As the market for poppers becomes increasingly uncertain, many are left wondering what the future holds for this popular drug.
FAQs
Q: What are poppers?
A: Poppers are a type of inhalant that contains alkyl nitrite, a chemical that instantly dilates blood vessels when inhaled, producing a brief but intense feeling of euphoria.
Q: Are poppers legal?
A: Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed — with a wink and a nod — as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner.
Q: What are the health risks of using poppers?
A: Sniffing alkyl nitrites can cause skin irritation, dizziness, low blood pressure, headaches and other unpleasant side effects. Drinking them — even in tiny amounts — causes a type of blood poisoning that turns victims blue from sudden hypoxia.
Q: Why are poppers popular in the LGBTQ+ community?
A: Roughly a third of gay men have used poppers, and about 20% have used them in the last three months, according to a 2020 report in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and a 2018 study in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services. Poppers are often used to help with anal sex for people whose bodies are more sensitive.
Q: What is the FDA’s stance on poppers?
A: The FDA has cracked down on poppers in the past, but many fear that this time it’s different. The Trump administration has taken action on a range of gay and transgender issues, and the crackdown on poppers may be part of a broader campaign against LGBTQ+ people.
By Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — There’s a rush on Rush.
Stores up and down Santa Monica Boulevard have seen a run on the iconic red and yellow vials this week, as the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on poppers, a product that has long existed in legal limbo.
The active ingredient in Rush and other poppers is alkyl nitrite, a chemical that instantly dilates blood vessels when inhaled, producing a brief but intense feeling of euphoria. It also causes a loosening of smooth muscle tissue, including the anus, an effect that has made it a staple of gay sex for generations.
Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed — with a wink and a nod — as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner.
But after the FDA raided a popular brand called Double Scorpio this month, many fear the Trump administration is ending the era of tolerance.
Within days of the Double Scorpio raid, rival brands such as Pig Sweat, Brown Bottle and Dumb Bitch Juice have also become scarce, many retailers said.
“People are calling asking if we’re out,” said Sandy, a cashier at Smoke 4 Less, who gave only her first name because she wasn’t authorized to speak to the press. “They’re stocking up. Right now we’re capped at 10 at a time, just to keep it fair.”
Similar buying frenzies have been reported around the country, with some worried it’s the opening of a new front in a broader campaign against LGBTQ+ people by the federal government.
“It’s a hit on the community,” said Edward, a clerk at Circus of Books in West Hollywood, who declined to give his last name, citing concerns about the drug’s legality since the FDA raid. “If that’s taken out, they don’t know what’s next.”
Roughly a third of gay men have used poppers, and about 20% have used them in the last three months, according to a 2020 report in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and a 2018 study in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services.
“I describe it to people as a muscle relaxant,” Edward said. “It helps with anal sex for people whose bodies are more sensitive.”
The bottles are popular enough to enjoy pride of place beside the cash register, and top billing on Circus of Books’ Instagram grid. Still, no one asking for poppers is likely to get them.
“You can call it so many things, but you can’t call it poppers,” said Jay Sosa, an associate professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Bowdoin College in Maine and a scholar of the drug.
Everett Farr III, a longtime maker of Rush-branded nail polish remover, is credited as a pioneer in rebranding. He noted there have been several past crackdowns, and cautioned one FDA raid doesn’t necessarily spell the end.
“This is not my first rodeo,” said Farr. “It’s been pursued religiously before.”
But to many, this moment feels different.
Donald Trump has taken action on a range of gay and transgender issues, blocking gender-affirming therapies for children and military veterans, effectively halting a global AIDS prevention program, and weighing drastic cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV division that would kneecap domestic efforts to end the disease.
“If that’s the weather, then [the crackdown on poppers] is a lightning bolt,” said Adam Zmith, author of “Deep Sniff, a History of Poppers and Queer Futures.” “It’s designed to be intimidating
