FDA Raids Maker of ‘Poppers’ Inhalant Drug, Company Says

By Jack Phillips

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on at least one manufacturer of a type of inhalant drug known as “poppers,” according to a recent statement by that manufacturer.

Double Scorpio, a Texas-based manufacturer of the inhalant, said in a statement on its website last week that it has “stopped all operations following a search and seizure” at its offices by the FDA.

“We don’t have a lot of information to share, but we believe that the FDA has performed similar actions towards other companies recently,” it said, also thanking its consumers for supporting the company over the past eight years.

Pac-West Distributing, another maker of the drug, appeared to have changed its website to show just its logo, according to an Epoch Times review.

A spokesperson for the FDA told The Epoch Times on Monday morning that “as a matter of policy, the FDA does not comment on possible criminal investigations” when asked about the crackdown.

The spokesperson, however, sent links to FDA warnings that usage of nitrate “poppers” can lead to serious injury or death.

Alkyl nitrates, or poppers, have long drawn warnings from the FDA and other U.S. health officials.

“Make no mistake, ingesting or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health,” Judy McMeekin, the FDA’s former associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, said in one of the advisories on July 15, 2021.

“These chemicals can be caustic and damage the skin or other tissues they come in contact with, cause difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure, decreases in blood oxygen levels, seizures, heart arrhythmia, coma, and death. Do not ingest or inhale under any circumstances.”

Earlier this month, a study published in an online journal revealed that the New York City poison control center saw an increase in popper poisoning reports. It found that 48 percent of retailers questioned about the product said they should be inhaled, 44 percent were not sure, and 8 percent recommended that they be ingested.

“Furthermore, fifty-one (59 percent) vendors also sold 5-Hour Energy drinks and alkyl nitrites were located near these energy drink shots in twenty (39 percent) of these fifty-one stores,” the study said, adding that the products appear in similar packages.

The FDA noted in a June 2021 warning that the products “are often marketed as nail polish removers or cleaning products and are packaged in small bottles, ranging from 10 to 40 mL [milliliters], appearing similar to energy shots.”

“The FDA has observed an increase in reports of deaths and hospitalizations with issues such as severe headaches, dizziness, increase in body temperature, difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure, blood oxygen issues (methemoglobinemia) and brain death after ingestion or inhalation,” the agency said.

Last week, the FDA issued a warning that consumers should not use another inhalant, nitrous oxide, following an increase in reports of adverse events. Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, has seen an uptick in recreational usage in recent years, the agency said.

“These products are marketed as both unflavored and flavored nitrous oxide canisters and are sold as a food processing propellant for whipped cream and culinary food use,” the FDA said. “Intentional misuse or inhalation of contents can lead to serious adverse health events, including death.”