Party Drug Use

[contentuser]

Drugs, Doses & Effects

All drugs considered to be party drugs are controlled substances listed in the control schedules maintained by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). A few drugs are most common at dance parties:

Amyl nitrates (butyl nitrate, poppers, rush, hardware, locker room, aroma of man)
Ketamine hydrochloride (Ketalar, special K, vitamin K, cat Valium)
MDMA (mehthylenedioxy-methamphetamine, ecstasy, XTC, X, STP, clarity)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn®, crystal me...Read the full article

[Smoothstone]

Poppers use effects immune system functioning. The concern is that the effect on the immune system, including immune suppression, could increase susceptibility to infections, including HIV and other STDs. Elizabeth Dax of National Institute of Drug Abuse assessed the effect of poppers use on the human immune system in 1987 and found that natural killer cell function was immediately suppressed and it took 4 days to recover to baseline. The number of inhalations was modest. The safety monitoring committee refused to allow more inhalations and would only allow HIV negative gay male volunteers to participate. Mice studies have also demonstrated that poppers suppress natural killer cell function. Whether the suppression of natural killer cell function increases susceptibility to HIV remains unknown. More research is needed to understand the significance of the immune suppression already demonstrated.

Epidemiological research concurs that poppers use is associated with an increase in both risky sex and HIV transmission.