KS and recreational drug use

[veritas]

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/aid.2008.0196

[J220]

Let me paste here the "bottom line" of that particular study, until others have the time to go through the whole thing:

"These findings do not support a biological association between use of these substances [Marijuana, Cocaine, Poppers, Amphetamine]and KS development in HIV- and HHV-8-coinfected homosexual men."

Although they did find a higher incidence of KS in individuals with 3-5 years prior poppers use, they attributed that to unsafe sex practices rather than a biological connection. This should help put to rest the myth that popper use itself, biochemically, causes KS. This study clearly shows that it doesn't.

[Miss Philicia]

Again, it's NOT the substances that cause damage, it's the accompanying (for many) lifestyle practices (not eating well, not sleeping enough, barebacking x10, etc.)

Let's put it this way -- if you snort poppers daily but ride up and down on a gargantuan dildo by yourself I seriously doubt that this will give you KS.  But hey, I heard drugs are bad so let's just blame them for everything.

[dearestgrandson]

"Poppers" are not drugs. They are a form of nitrates, and if I remember correctly they were once prescribed to lower blood pressure. I think you would be hard pressed to find any credible person other then an "AIDS dissident/denialist" who would compare them to heroin or cocaine.

[J220]

"Poppers" are not drugs. They are a form of nitrates, and if I remember correctly they were once prescribed to lower blood pressure. I think you would be hard pressed to find any credible person other then an "AIDS dissident/denialist" who would compare them to heroin or cocaine.

Of course it's a drug, by definition. So is aspirin, alcohol, etc....but the purpose of this study was not to make any statement that poppers are as potentially harmful, either physically, socially, or emotionally as, say heroin (clearly they are not, you are correct there) . It was to specifically see if there was a correlation between the use of the substances they selected for the study and KS. And there isn't, which is great news.

[Miss Philicia]

Poppers use has definitely elevated my cd4 counts.  Trust!