Project 460787

Poppers are vasodilators and result in relaxation of the rectum and other smooth muscle tissues when inhaled. As such, they are used by many gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) to relieve pain, enhance pleasure, and facilitate penetration during sex. Despite diverse regulatory policies around world, little is known about the effectiveness of these policies in improving health outcomes related to poppers use. At the same time, significant barriers exist to applying existing health science research on poppers use due to a systematic devaluing of GBMSM and experiential knowledge relating to poppers use, and inadequate considerations for the contextual benefits poppers provide - notably the facilitation of penetrative anal sex. Findings from our previous work outline three key areas in which new research is needed: (A) more robust studies examining potential side effects associated with poppers use, with an emphasis on harm reduction and health promotion; (B) evaluation of health policies relating to poppers' legal and regulatory status; (C) research that examines contextual and motivational factors associated with poppers use in the lives of those who use them, particularly community-based participatory research. The aim of the proposed planning activities is to establish a set of international collaborations at the interface of research and regulatory policy on poppers (alkyl nitrites). Activities will include national and international workshops, a report outlining key findings and knowledge gaps, and the development of new research proposals.