Poppers are a group of drugs, also known as alkyl nitrites, that people inhale to get high or make sex more comfortable. They are a liquid chemical substance that produces vapors, and when those vapors are inhaled, they provide a sense of euphoria and heightened sexual pleasure. Poppers are typically sold in small bottles and are commercially available online and in retail shops, marketed as room deodorizers, leather cleaners, VHS cleaners, or nail polish removers. Some common names for poppers include Rush, Bold, Jungle Juice, Liquid Gold, Purple Haze, Buzz, and Snappers.

Poppers primarily act as vasodilators, which means that they expand blood vessels. This can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, an increased heart rate, lightheadedness, and warm sensations throughout the body. Poppers also relax the muscles around the anus, which some people report enhances their pleasure from anal sex. However, the drug can also reduce the ability to get an erection. Poppers may cause other unwanted effects, such as headaches, respiratory reactions, crusty skin lesions, and allergic reactions.

Poppers are not addictive, but they are unsafe and can lead to serious health problems or death. Ingesting or inhaling nitrite poppers can cause severe injury or death, and they are not safe to ingest or inhale. The sale and use of nitrites for nonmedical purposes is illegal, so some stores and online vendors sell them under false, often sexualized names. Swallowing poppers can be fatal, and sniffing poppers is bad for anyone with heart problems because it can cause irregular or fast heart rhythms. Mixing drugs is always risky, but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.