Is Chemist Warehouse going to start selling Poppers (Amyl Nitrite)
New regulations come into place this month that allow the sale of amyl nitrite, known as poppers, in Australian pharmacies.
Amyl nitrite and the broader class of drugs it belongs to, alkyl nitrites, were previously illegal in Australia. But poppers were easy to obtain, sold as “room deodoriser” or “leather cleaner” in adult stores and sex-on-premises venues.
Poppers are inhaled, giving a short buzz and mild head-rush because they relax muscles and blood vessels. They’re also used to facilitate more pleasurable sex, particularly anal intercourse. They relax the anal sphincter muscles, allowing for easier sex.
But you’re not likely to find poppers in pharmacies anytime soon – no product has yet completed the manufacture, testing, and registration processes required to sell a medication in Australia.
There are also a number of other barriers to overcome before users can make a successful transition to purchasing poppers in a pharmacy.
In the meantime, exemptions should be given to stores and venues where poppers were previously sold to ensure people can continue to access them.
Who uses poppers?
Our recent research found almost half of gay and bisexual men in Australia have used poppers in the last six months.
Women also use poppers, but much less frequently. Almost 10% of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women report using poppers in the last six months, mostly at parties.
The majority (65%) of men we surveyed reported that despite any changes to the legal status of poppers, they would continue to find ways to obtain them.
We found the use of poppers wasn’t associated with an increased risk of acquiring HIV.
In fact, men who used poppers were more likely to be protected against HIV by using pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP (a medication to prevent HIV) than men who didn’t use poppers.
Poppers may also play a role in reducing the risk of HIV transmission, by decreasing the risk of tearing or abrasions during sex.