alkyl nitrites

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.

Although the high from poppers is over in a few minutes, you may feel dizzy or sick after taking them – and you may get a headache.

Poppers are a liquid chemical (alkyl nitrites), sold in small bottles with brand names like Liquid Gold and Bang Aroma.

Nitrates were once used to treat angina (chest pains) and came in small glass capsules that were popped open and sniffed, hence the name poppers.

They are often sold as ‘room aromas’, ‘deodorisers’ and ‘leather cleaners’, but they’re not actually used in this way. They can be found in sex shops, clubs, market stalls and online.

Poppers have a very strong solvent smell. You shouldn’t taste poppers, swallowing them is very dangerous.

People have died from drinking poppers.

People sniff poppers, either straight from the bottle or from something absorbent like a cloth or the end of an unlit cigarette.

There’s no evidence to suggest that poppers are physically or psychologically addictive.

But there is evidence to suggest that heavy users might develop a tolerance to the drug, and need to increase their use to get the same high.

• Poppers are legal to sell, but only as products not for human consumption. For this reason they are often sold as a ‘room odouriser’ and ‘leather cleaner’.

• They are regulated under the Medicines Act 1968 and there have been cases where the Medicines Act was used to fine shopkeepers for selling poppers. Poppers are also covered by general consumer protection legislation.

• Possession is not illegal but supply can be an offence.

• Poppers are not covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.