Health Canada states alkyl nitrites can only be used when prescribed by a doctor, but there are currently no approved products sold as poppers. Should Canada ease its restrictions on poppers? We learn more about what poppers is and the history of the ban. Recently there has been push to overturn the ban. The Early Edition 7:57 We discuss what 'poppers' are, and the ban of them in Canada Featured VideoThe sale of poppers was banned almost ten years ago by Health Canada. "If you're about to drink a 5-Hour Energy drink and it smells like nail polish remover, you know, maybe you should ask yourself some questions before touching it to your lips," he said.Īwad said he isn't aware of any cases of people dying from a poppers-related mishap like the FDA described - a claim the agency previously made in 2021 - but he said he "would be very keen to see any evidence that they've got or reports on the actual number of cases." If by some chance you had both products side-by-side and didn't realize your mistake by the time you peeled off the plastic and cracked open the bottle, the distinct smell of poppers should be a red flag, explained Adam Awad, the communications manager for the Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance in Toronto. They're commonly found at convenience stores, supermarkets or bought online. Does the FDA claim pass the sniff test?Įnergy shots are flavoured beverages containing some amount of caffeine, and vitamins or other natural substances that purportedly boost your energy, like ginseng or ginkgo biloba. They're sold in small bottles with colourful plastic labels. But he suggested such side effects "can be remedied through change of usage patterns."Īccording to the FDA's website, they are usually purchased in sex shops or online - often labelled as other products such as leather cleaner or deodorizers - even though the agency recommends against using them. Alkyl nitrates as poppers are unauthorized in Canada and Health Canada has cracked down on the sale of them since 2013, though they're not necessarily illegal to purchase, possess or consume. LJlPAnbfOY- that there are sometimes side effects, which may include nausea, headaches, reduced blood pressure - alkyl nitrates are vasodilators, meaning they open blood vessels - and even vision issues. Drinking or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health. We continue to receive reports of people dying or being severely injured after consuming poppers that resemble, and often mistaken for, popular energy shots. Such messaging "borders on inflammatory" and may contribute to the "the stigmatization of the product the stigmatization of the person who's using poppers," said Rod Knight, an associate professor at the at Université de Montréal's School of Public Health, who has also conducted research on poppers.Ī single mistake can prove fatal. These poppers, often purchased online or in novelty stores, are unapproved products and should not be inhaled or ingested, regardless of how they are packaged, labelled or displayed," the FDA notes in its online warning shared in recent social media posts.īut those who work in LGBTQ sexual health say the FDA's warning that people are confusing poppers with energy shots, with sometimes dire consequences, may actually be doing more of a disservice. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned people who drink energy shots to make sure they're not accidentally chugging a bottle of poppers - or they might end up sick or dead. It's not unusual for the packaging of one product to resemble that of another, potentially leading to mix-ups.
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