“Lots of my friends are now using Jungle Juice at parties and they don’t seem to know much about it. How dangerous is it and has anyone died after using it?”
When people talk about ‘Jungle Juice’, they’re usually referring to one of the alkyl nitrites. This class of chemicals are used in products that are sometimes called ‘poppers’. Although that term is still used by some, younger users are now more likely to use the particular product’s brand name, of which there are many including ‘Rush’, ‘Liquid Gold’ and the most popular, ‘Jungle Juice’. In the past the most widely used nitrite was ‘amyl’, but that’s not necessarily the case today.
These products come as a liquid with users inhaling the vapour from a small bottle. It has a unique smell, with some products having a sweet, fruity odour, while others are described as smelling like sweaty socks. After inhalation, some users report a sense of well-being and euphoria, although this isn’t always the case. The effects are short-acting however, lasting no more than 30 seconds for some people and up to 3-5 minutes for others.
Can people die as a result of using these products? The short answer is ‘yes’ and although nitrite deaths are rare they do happen. A recent study estimated that there had been 85 fatalities in the UK involving this group of drugs between 2001-2020. Having an underlying health condition was one of the risk factors that contributed to the deaths, with another being using it in combination with other drugs. In addition, nitrites can significantly lower blood pressure and some of the fatalities were due to cardiac arrest.
Ingesting or swallowing these products is particularly dangerous. In fact, one in ten deaths associated with nitrite use are due to that route of administration. When swallowed, a molecule called methaemoglobin can be formed. This can interfere with the ability of the blood to transport oxygen, leading to shortness of breath, fatigue, coma and even death.
Although these products can seem like a bit of harmless fun, it’s important to remember that they can be potentially dangerous substances if people are not totally aware of what they are doing and what it is that they are actually taking. Most importantly, they should never be swallowed.
First published: January 2026
