Rush

Rush is one of the best-known brand names for poppers, a group of inhaled chemicals in the alkyl nitrite family such as amyl, butyl, or isobutyl nitrite. Sold in small bottles, they produce a short rush of euphoria, warmth, and muscle relaxation lasting from about 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. Poppers have been part of gay male nightlife and sexual culture since the 1970s, valued for relaxing smooth muscle during sex. They are vasodilators that lower blood pressure, and health experts warn they carry real risks. They should never be combined with erectile dysfunction drugs, and swallowing them can be fatal. Legal status varies by place.