- Andreas Hungerbühler
- 13. March 2024
From a drug to a bottle to increase pleasure – Poppers and their History in the USA
If you’re part of the gay community, you’re probably familiar with the term poppers and you may have even used poppers to make your sexual activities particularly intense. The term “poppers” originated in the USA because of a sound. When the ampoules, which were the predecessors of today’s bottles, were opened at their predetermined breaking point, a soft pop was heard. Due to its aphrodisiac effect, the fragrance was soon also used in bedrooms around the world. In the following article you will find all the important information about poppers and its history in the United States.
How did poppers come about?
Poppers first appeared in the form of amyl nitrite in 1867, when the British doctor Thomas Lauder Brunton used them as a medication for angina pectoris patients. Inhalation alleviated the feeling of heart constriction that occurs with this disease. After it was replaced by nitroglycerin, it was somewhat forgotten until the 1960s. However, amyl nitrite had since developed into a drug that was popular among US soldiers in the Vietnam War. The vial was easy to obtain; the vials were light and found their way to the soldiers, labeled “antidote to black powder fumes”. The returnees ultimately brought their poppers consumption back to the USA. In 1969, the FDA put an end to the use of poppers in America as a recreational drug for more fun during sex and ordered poppers to be made prescription-only.
Poppers in the USA - where were they used, where were they popular?
As early as the 1960s, a predecessor of today’s popular isopentyl nitrite poppers was available over the counter in the USA. As a result, the substance quickly gained popularity. Perhaps also for this reason, the drug was soon available only on prescription. From the mid-1970s, poppers made a comeback when Jay Freezer founded the Pacific Western Distributing Corporation, which manufactured and distributed various brands of poppers, including the best-known poppers you are probably familiar with, Rush. This brand is so fascinating and offers so many facets that we have dedicated a separate Rush Poppers Guide to it.
The original amyl nitrite formula was further developed into isobutyl nitrite and the new poppers were sold in record stores, boutiques and sex stores. To avoid the prescription requirement, they could be purchased as a room fragrance. All of the new formulas were and are in no way inferior to the original effect and are very popular today in the LGBTQIA community, but also among heterosexuals. In the meantime, numerous brands such as Rush Poppers, Amsterdam Poppers and Jungle Juice Poppers have established themselves, advertising that their various formulas produce a wide range of results. In the USA, there is a publication based on studies which states that “inhalable nitrites are the closest thing to real aphrodisiacs.”
Pioneers of the poppers culture in the USA
One of the pioneers of poppers culture was a medical student called Clifford Hassings. He discovered amyl nitrite when it first appeared in LA nightclubs in the 1970s. He went on to develop butyl nitrite, initially for his own use. He then sold it to friends in small brown bottles labeled “Locker Room” (the smell reminded him of men’s changing rooms). As demand grew, Hassing founded the company West American Industries based in Los Angeles, went into mass production and sold his poppers throughout the USA. He also shipped them abroad, where they were sold in clubs, record stores, sex stores and even pharmacies and gift stores.
Other entrepreneurs such as Jay Freezer recognized the potential of poppers and also founded companies (Pacific Western Distributing Corporation based in San Francisco). Joe Miller founded the company Great Lakes Products, acquired Freezer’s company after his death and created the company PWD.
Miller became a big player within the gay community and spent a lot of money advertising Rush and other poppers. Fearing regulation by the state, Joe Miller became one of the biggest donors to the US Democrats. Sadly, Joe Miller committed suicide in the 1990s.
Poppers and the gay community
Poppers were originally used in the gay scene, but gradually found their way to heterosexual couples. They enjoyed the stimulating effect of poppers. Poppers are often used to clean leather or recorder components, but this is usually just an excuse to have the small bottles in the house. Poppers provide pain-free pleasure, especially during anal sex, regardless of gender. Inhalation increases pain tolerance, the sphincter with its smooth muscles relaxes and an aphrodisiac effect sets in very quickly. This makes sexual activity even more intense overall. However, the main group of poppers users is still the gay or queer community.
Celebrities who use/have used poppers
One celebrity who has admitted to using poppers is Robbie Williams, former lead singer of boyband Take That. He told his biographer that he had taken it after leaving the band along with alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy, speed and cocaine. Top model Kate Moss is also said to have consumed poppers at a party in a trendy club in London in 2007, if house DJ Elliot Eastwick is to be believed.
What is the current situation in the USA?
Poppers products, especially those containing butyl nitrite, continue to be successfully marketed by some companies in the USA. For this reason, they are trying to exert influence through donations and ensure that the regulations envisaged by the FDA are slowed down. In addition, manufacturers and retailers do not advertise the poppers directly as poppers, but with a statement on the label “Not for human consumption”.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an official FDA warning in 2021 advising consumers not to buy and use nitrite “poppers”. The reason given is that they can have serious adverse health effects, including death, if inhaled or swallowed. Nevertheless, poppers are still available in the USA, sometimes online or in erotic stores. Although they are advertised as leather cleaner or nail polish remover, they are mainly used to intensify sexual experiences and make them less painful. Unless the FDA introduces further regulations, poppers will continue to be available in the USA in the future. However, many Americans already buy their poppers from online stores in Europe.
Why only buy poppers from a trustworthy source?
The answer to the question of why you should only buy poppers in America from trustworthy sources is to ensure the best possible and health-friendly quality. There are poppers in the USA from different manufacturers, each using different recipes for their poppers. It is precisely because of this variety of poppers that it makes sense to buy from an online store that has been on the market for a long time and whose products are rated positively by customers. Ultimately, it is always about the health aspect. Poppers made from isopropyl or isobutyl should be avoided as they are carcinogenic. So only buy poppers from companies that you know and that clearly point out the risks and side effects of poppers.