Poppers: Past, Present, and Future

While you've most likely heard of them, perhaps you may not know much about their history and how they became a staple in the LGBTQ+ community. Here's a brief 411 on poppers!

The Past: How Poppers Came to Be

Did you know that poppers were once used to treat chest pain? That's right, back in the 19th century, your favorite party drug was a valid treatment for heart conditions, by increasing the blood flow and dilating the blood vessels.

Be that as it may, it wasn't until a century later that it became so popular. Poppers were all the rage in the '70s club scene, which was heavily dominated by gays. They discovered that the drug not only made them dance like nobody's watching, but also relaxed the muscles of the tail-end and the throat, allowing for easier access and thus more intense sexual pleasure for everyone involved.

The chemical name behind them is amyl-nitrate, but everyone knows them as poppers today. Before, they produced and sold in glass vials, which you needed to crush to release the vapor. The crushing, i.e. popping sound is where their name actually comes from. Still, poppers today come in liquid, bottle form.

The Present: Legality Status

In today's retail arena, it's technically illegal to sell them under the name 'poppers', thanks to the ban from the '80s; you need a prescription to buy the substance legally. However, to dodge the restrictions, manufacturers got creative,  by advertising their products as "room deodorizers'', "VHS tape cleaners" and "liquid incense" and you can find them mostly online, in sex shops, and at venues.

Despite their legality issues, poppers were and still are a favorite among LGBTQ+ community. Aside from their euphoria-inducing, orgasm-ensuring effects, they were incredibly practical for parties. They're cheap, small, and easy to carry along. In addition, poppers provide an instant and quick high, allowing you to reach the big O in no time. Unsurprisingly, more and more straight people have also started to discover their charms recently.

The Future: Breaking the Stigma

Of course, just like any drug, poppers aren't without their side effects. They can make you feel sick afterward and can even be lethal if you ingest them. What's more, if you're not careful, mixing ED medications and poppers could have serious consequences on your health.

However, when used properly and occasionally, poppers can be a great way to spice up the bedroom action and explore the limits of pleasure. Therefore, instead of putting our focus on banning their use altogether (which, as we now know, doesn't work), we should do better in terms of product quality control, as well as inform people on how to use them safely.

After all, no matter your gender or orientation, we all love doing the rumpy-pumpy at the end of the day. There's no harm in wanting to have some fun and let loose from time to time, and poppers can help you do just that. Embrace your kinky side and don't be afraid to push the limits of sex — so long as it makes you feel fantastic!

Subscribe to the Skunky Punk Blog's RSS feed with the following address:
https://wyffr.com/blogs/news.atom