JAMA Netw Open

Poppers ingestion on the rise: Severe outcomes linked to accidental use

July 31, 2025

Study details: This retrospective case series analyzed 2,431 U.S. poison center reports of alkyl nitrite ("poppers") exposures from 2013 to 2023 using data from the National Poison Data System. Researchers examined trends in exposure route and severity of clinical outcomes, hypothesizing that ingestion would be associated with more severe effects than inhalation.

Results: Ingestion exposures rose from 78 in 2013 to 277 in 2023 (average annual percentage change [AAPC], 16.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.5–21.8), nearly matching inhalation cases (228 in 2023; AAPC, 17.2%). Most exposures involved male patients, who accounted for nearly 89% of inhalation cases and approximately 80% of ingestion cases. Severe outcomes were more frequent with ingestion, increasing from 2.6% to 13.7% (AAPC, 17.3%; 95% CI, 8.7–26.7%), compared with a non-significant rise in inhalation-related severity (3.8% to 6.1%).

Clinical impact: Alkyl nitrite exposures are increasing in the U.S., with ingestion associated with a significantly higher rate of severe toxicity, including methemoglobinemia. These findings highlight the need for clinician awareness and targeted harm reduction strategies, particularly among populations at elevated risk.

Source:

Kerester S. (2025, July 1). JAMA Netw Open. Alkyl Nitrite ("Poppers") Exposures in the US. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40720127/