WBZ, the CBS affiliate in Boston, reported on December 28:
…Dwan Hammond’s arrest stems from a complaint police received from an unidentified person. This tipster told police that “poppers” — an illegal inhalant — were being sold at the Amazing.net Adult Video Store on Stuart Street.According to Bostonist, Dwan Hammond is an employee of Amazing.net.
Police say they sent undercover officers into the store to purchase the poppers…
According to police, the two suspects who sold the poppers to the undercover officers and Hammond were arrested during the bust.
Several inhalants were obtained during the search. Police say they also recovered a bag of marijuana from Hammond.
We researched ‘poppers’ and found them on sale at adult sites like this one, with a coy notice that “All our nitrite based rush products are sold as room deodorants, liquid incense, liquid aromas, or video head cleaner only.” The website DanceSafe gave us this information:
* “Poppers” is the popular name for various alkyl nitrites, including isobutyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, and amyl nitrite.
* Doctors used to prescribe amyl nitrite for heart patients in capsules that were broken or “popped” to release vapors.
* Amyl nitrite is made and sold illegally, but most poppers are isobutyl nitrite or butyl nitrite sold in small brown bottles as “video head cleaner,” “room deodorizer,” or “leather cleaner.”
* The exact contents of these products are not known, and they are not safety tested.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?
* Poppers are used by sniffing the vapors from an open bottle. The effects are felt within a few seconds and last for 1-2 minutes.
* Poppers cause muscles around blood vessels to relax, making your heart speed up to pump more blood. Oxygen-rich blood reaching the brain produces a “rush” sensation.
* Because poppers cause muscles in the anus and vagina to relax, they are often used during sex.
BE CAREFUL…
* Contact with the skin causes irritation and rashes. Extensive use can damage the nose and lungs…
* Poppers are highly flammable. Keep away from cigarettes, candles, and lighters.
* Studies show that poppers reduce the functioning of the immune system for several days after use.
* Because poppers cause blood vessels to open, it is easier to get an infection, including sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV…
* Combining poppers with stimulants like speed and cocaine increases risks. Combining poppers and Viagra is dangerous because both cause blood pressure to drop.
* Poppers can affect your judgment. If you are planning on being intimate, put on a condom before you use them.
See also:
Viewing Booths and HIV: An Open Letter to Thomas Lesser of Northampton, Attorney for Capital Video
Comments on Squirt.org about Amazing Express/Video Expo of North Kingstown, RI – explicit language…
1/11/07: I used to frequent this bookstore for years. Back when it was a quarter of the size and only had one entrance in the front of the building (late 80’s). There were only 4 booths in the back. Had some hot times there. The clerk used to lock the store and lay me down for some awesome head. Shit, he could suck some cock! He also introduced me to poppers. He would pop a new bottle everytime we hooked up, about twice a week…
Full Text of Springfield’s Decision to Revoke Capital Video’s Viewing Booth Entertainment License
…the undisputed facts in this matter show that the video booths on the Capital Video premises have been used for prostitution, assignation or lewdness, sexual assaults and are connected to drug activity and therefore, the video booths are deemed a nuisance and there are substantial grounds for denial or revocation of the 2007 license…
…the testimony shows repeated and persistent evidence of illegal activity and complicity and reckless disregard of Capital Video’s management over a long period of time which is sufficient to constitute a nuisance.
Based on the evidence presented, this store caters to a group of people who are reckless about personal health and, by inference, the health of their sexual partners, and Capital Video’s blind eye to this activity encourages promiscuity on its premises. Such conduct has been recognized in other Massachusetts case law as a cause of HIV infection…
Comments on Squirt.org about Main Street Video of Somerville, MA
[This is a porn shop with viewing booths, but not affiliated with Amazing.net or Capital Video]
massbearbtm, 11/27/06: anyone headin there tonight after work..lookin to service bear guy who likes to bottom.piereced to ngue..love others to watch or just one to one. hit me up. i have poppers,cock rings,nipple clamps that i can bring…
Smart bomb, 12/3/06: …One of the things I noticed is that there are lots of guys looking to do pretty unsafe stuff. I wa s propositioned several times in the ~2 hrs I was there for BB anal. Just use your heads, guys!
pepi, 12/28/06: This place is turning into a scum bag place.. once in a while a hot guy might come along (where al l the ugly whores just waiting outside the booths begin chasing him)this place gets crowded with ugly trolls, drug a ddicts and trashy slutty guys that hang around the Fenway bushes most of the day and night… A few guys that come h ere look sick, yet people don’t care and just go into the booth with them…