The submission also notes that former AFP commissioner Mick Palmer warned in September that the proposed ban on alkyl nitrites was unlikely to be effective. The pair will warn that banning alkyl nitrites might lead to poppers users turning to more dangerous substances, such as “huffing” ethyl chloride or illicit drugs such as crystal methamphetamine. In a statement Cornelisse and Readers said they will argue that the TGA could prevent risks of vision loss with “a more limited ban on isopropyl nitrite alone”. The submission noted that an increase in “adverse events” – including ophthalmological damage – in recent years came after the European Union banned isobutyl nitrite in 2007, suggesting that substitution of isopropyl nitrite may to be blame for vision loss in some users. The submission presented evidence that poppers are widely used and adverse events associated with use are relatively uncommon – making criminalisation disproportionate to the risk.
The LGBT health advocates also called on the TGA to consider the mental health impact of a decision to “criminalise the practice of an estimated 90,000 adult gay and bisexual men, as well as an undetermined number of queer women, non-binary people, and heterosexual men and women who currently use nitrite inhalants”.
Instead, this was a “legitimate, beneficial and therapeutic use” of poppers, which help prevent spasms and tearing during anal sex. “Use as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties should not be considered misuse and abuse of these substances,” they argued. The authors also submitted the interim decision was contradictory because it claimed poppers had “little or no therapeutic benefit” despite conceding they are used for their “euphoric … analgesic and muscle relaxant effects”. Reeders, Cornelisse and their co-authors accused the TGA delegate of “listing the benefits of use as risks of use”, which they argued “perhaps a prejudgment of the scheduling decision”. The TGA has claimed that there is a “high potential for misuse and abuse of alkyl nitrites for euphoric properties, and as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties” in “particular sections of the community”. The proposal would list alkyl nitrites in schedule 9, along with the most serious drugs and effectively criminalise possession and use. When using a search engine such as Google, Bing or Yahoo check the safe search settings where you can exclude adult content sites from your search results Īsk your internet service provider if they offer additional filters īe responsible, know what your children are doing online.Poppers dilate the user’s blood vessels, helping receptive sexual partners comfortably enjoy anal sex. Use family filters of your operating systems and/or browsers Other steps you can take to protect your children are: More information about the RTA Label and compatible services can be found here. Parental tools that are compatible with the RTA label will block access to this site. We use the "Restricted To Adults" (RTA) website label to better enable parental filtering. Protect your children from adult content and block access to this site by using parental controls. PARENTS, PLEASE BE ADVISED: If you are a parent, it is your responsibility to keep any age-restricted content from being displayed to your children or wards. Furthermore, you represent and warrant that you will not allow any minor access to this site or services.
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