Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently postponed its decision on whether or not to change the law around alkyl nitrites (the active ingredient in ‘amyl’ or ‘poppers’). Currently, the TGA is conducting public consultations into the proposed amendments that could see amyl recategorised as a ‘prohibited substance’.
The legal consequence of this decision could see amyl fall into the same category as prohibited drugs like heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, with serious penalties for their possession, use or supply. This issue has raised concerns within our communities where amyl is used during sex.
Submissions to the TGA
The deadline for written submissions to the TGA closed on 15 January 2019; however, a number of organisations expressed their concerns including:
- Thorne Harbour Health’s written submission to the TGA’s Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling
- AFAO & National LGBTI Health Alliance Joint Publication of interim decisions proposing to amend, or not amend, the current Poisons Standard, September 2018
Earlier this month, the Nitrites Action Group (comprised of community health advocates, researchers, and clinicians) released guidelines around community submissions to the TGA.