Poppers
Drug: Poppers - Alkyl Nitrites 
Street names: Ram, Thrust, Rock Hard, Kix, TNT,
Liquid Gold.
Similar drugs: Nitrites like amyl nitrite, butyl
nitrite and isobutyl nitrite.
Drug type: Cardio-vascular dilator
Legal status: Amyl nitrite is controlled under the
Medicines Act. Possession is not illegal but supply can be an
offence. There have been cases where the Medicines Act was used to
fine shops for selling them, but they're still sold as
Room Deodorisers in sex shops and some clubs.
What are they? Nitrites originally came as small
glass capsules that were popped open, hence the name. Now, they're
likely to be in small bottles.They dilate the blood vessels and
allow more blood to get to the heart. Poppers are sniffed from the
bottle with immediate effects which fade after a
couple of minutes.
How it can make you feel: Poppers give an initial
head rush that lasts a couple of minutes. Some people say that
sniffing poppers during sex makes their orgasms feel like they
last longer. And other people say it enhances their erections.
Poppers may also help to relax anal sphincter
muscles.
The risks: Poppers can give you an extreme
headache. The effects don't last very long and can leave people
feeling sick, faint and weak. Especially if taken while
dancing.
Taking poppers can
be dangerous for people with chest or heart problems,
anaemia or glaucoma (an eye disease). It is also dangerous to take
poppers if you are taking medication to lower blood pressure, or
when using viagra; as they can cause your blood pressure to fall
dangerously.
Some people get a rash around their mouth
and can burn the skin of they come into contact. Poppers are toxic
and can kill you if you swallow them.
Poppers image courtesy of Talk to Frank, Crown Copyright.
Solvents
GHB