Kinsey Institute: Poppers and AIDS

Poppers General Information Sites

"The recreational use of inhalants such as amyl and butyl nitrite has become more common in the last decade. We are not aware of any data to suggest direct neurotoxicity associated with the abuse of these substances." NIDA Research Monograph 1990
"...Alkyl nitrites are a group of organic compounds with the general formula R-O-N=O, where R is any organic group. Amyl nitrite has historically been used for the treatment of angina, among other legitimate medicinal uses. Other alkyl nitrites, including butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, isopropyl nitrite, ethyl nitrite, methyl nitrite as well as the disputed cyclohexyl nitrite, have been widely used for 40 years as the primary ingredients in room odorizer products and as recreational drug. The vapours of the alkyl nitrite are inhaled directly from the bottle, inducing an almost-instant, euphoric head rush; the body's smooth muscles are relaxed. As a recreational drug, they are primarily used to enhance the sexual experience."
"...in a prospectively studied cohort in Vancouver, 715 homosexual men were followed for a median of 8.6 years. Among 365 HIV-positive individuals, 136 developed AIDS. No AIDS-defining illnesses occurred among 350 seronegative men despite the fact that these men reported appreciable use of inhalable nitrites ("poppers") and other recreational drugs, and frequent receptive anal intercourse (Schechter et al., 1993)"
"Why did it take so long to accept the idea that the epidemic was caused by a transmissible agent, and to forget about poppers and all the other things that the CDC and other people were looking at?"
A Guide to Alkyl Nitrites and Poppers: Statements of Fact
AIDS AND POPPERS: AIDS; Virus or Drug Induced? By Tom Bethell
Alkyl Nitrites study: REPORT of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, The Hon. Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. May 4,1988
British Downgrade Ecstasy and Place 'Poppers' at Bottom of List Demonstrating Little Potential for Harm if Misused.
Bruce Voeller, Ph.D. Mariposa Education & Research Foundation
Charles Stephens, M.D., Ph.D. Capetown, South Africa
Christine Weber, B.Sc.
DanceSafe: What Are Poppers?
Dr. June Reinisch - Kinsey Institute: Poppers and AIDS, 'Researchers haven’t found a link between them.'
Dr. Stephen Burton, London: The Pink Paper Issue 67 8 April 1989: Poppers in perspective
Eric Trimmer in MEDICAL NEWS WEEKLY: 'My Way With Angina Victims"
First produced in 1857 as a treatment for angina, amyl nitrate evaporates at room temperature. The vapour released causes your veins and arteries to dilate resulting in the blood flowing faster through the heart and the brain.
Investigating the Poppers-AIDS Hypothesis
ISOBUTYL NITRITE and Related Compounds
Lisa Ringold, PhD pharmacology: A Critical Review of Hank Wilson’s Bibliography of Anti-Popper Research
Mark Nickerson, author: ISOBUTYL NITRITE AND RELATED COMPOUNDS, is considered perhaps the most eminent pharmacologist of the twentieth century.
Merck & Co., Inc.: Where patients come first: Volatile Nitrites/Poppers
NIDA Meeting Calls For Research Into THE POPPERS-KAPOSI'S SARCOMA CONNECTION, By John Lauritsen
No link between drug use and unprotected sex amongst HIV-positive gay men
Paul Varnell, Chicago, IL: '...the controversy over poppers...'
Paul Varnell, Observer's Notebook - Poppers: Less Than Meets the Eye
Popper Studies: a bibliography of studies done over the past thirty years, and their analyses.
poppers: (amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, isobutyl nitrate, TNT, liquid gold, rush etc.)
Psychosexual Aspects of the Volatile Nitrites, Thomas P. Lowry, M.D.
QUEER ADVERTISING From Poppers to Protease Inhibitors
Richard Kim: "Harper's Publishes AIDS Denialist"
Robert Bauman: "...every U.S. government study, including those done by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (on which my former wife served for six years), have come to virtually the same conclusion."
Robert L. DuPont, M.D., the first Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse: Nitrites and Gateway Drugs
Stanley B. Prusiner: "HISTORICAL ESSAY: Discovering the Cause of AIDS"
Stephen J. O'Brien, Ph.D. Director, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity
Steve Harris M.D.: HIV/AIDS, Poppers, from the web...
THE INDEPENDENT: "Poppers" pose little potential harm to health or society
The Lancet: Alcohol and Smoking far more dangerous than poppers
THE POPPERS STORY, The Rise and Fall and Rise of 'The Gay Drug' By Ian Young
TIME Magazine 1978 ....millions Americans regularly inhale the chemical, both on the dance floor and later in bed. Some people use it as a quick upper during the day. "I carry a bottle of it with me all the time," says Ron Braun, 28, a California carpenter. "If I'm bored and want a rush, I take a sniff. It's a short break during the day."
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, July 1983, "Briefing Package on Petition HP82-1" -- "Briefing Package on Petition HP82-1": "The staff has not found sufficient data to Support the claim of a behavior disorder associated with volatile nitrite inhalation. Available injury data did not indicate a significant risk of personal injury or illness from room odorizer abuse. These materials were prepared with the assistance of Chemical Hazards Program team members."
Wall Street Journal – October 10, 1977: "A New Way to Glow And Giggle, and Get A Headache Besides. “Poppers, Legally Sniffable, Becoming a Big Business; The FDA isn’t Interested."
www.urban75.com: Poppers (amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, isobutyl nitrate, TNT, liquid gold, rush etc.)

Poppersmyth Poppers and AIDS sites

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‘Poppers’ and AIDS: Researchers haven’t found a link between them.

Kinsey Report
Dr. June Reinisch

Friday, April 1, 1988

‘Poppers’ and AIDS
Researchers haven’t found a link between them.

Dear Dr. Reinisch,

What are the effects of using the liquids commonly referred to as “poppers” during sexual activity? These are sold in small bottles and one inhales or sniffs the aroma. I think they contain amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite, and their use is common practice among some groups.

Recently I heard a rumor connecting poppers with an increased risk of AIDS. Is this true? What are the risks if a person used poppers two or three times a month?

Dear Reader,

Recent research compiled for a federal government study concluded that “the use of nitrites (poppers) does not cause AIDS.”

The question has been raised as to whether use of nitrite vapors may be linked to the incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma (a usually rare type of skin tumor) among people who already have AIDS, but the answer is not yet clear. One study suggested a link, but other—larger--studies have not supported this.

Remember that the AIDS virus does not usually kill patients directly. Instead it weakens the body’s immune system so that a patient is much more susceptible to a wide array of serous diseases (Kaposi’s sarcoma is only one of these.)

Both amyl nitrite (sold as a prescription drug to treat some heart problems) and butyl nitrite or isobutyl nitrite have been widely used for years because of the belief that they enhance sexual response. Physically, the nitrite vapors produce a brief drop in blood pressure and an increase in blood flow I the brain. Called “poppers”, these nitrites have been popular among some groups.

Regardless of what research concludes about poppers, a person should follow safer sex guidelines to reduce the risk of exposure to HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). These include the use of condoms.