(NewsNation) — A dangerous trend that has been around for years is making a comeback on social media, sending kids to the hospital and even resulting in death.
The social media trend called “chroming” is the practice of inhaling dangerous chemicals or substances, resulting in a temporary high.
‘Chroming’: What is it?
According to The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, the term “chroming” originated from sniffing chrome-based paint.
However, a wide range of solvents intended for household or industrial use are inhaled, including but not limited to nail polish remover, hairspray, aerosol deodorant, lighter fluid, gasoline, paint thinners, spray paint and permanent markers, the hospital said.
These substances can be inhaled in three different ways: huffing, which is inhaling from a chemically soaked cloth; bagging, which is when the chemical or substance is placed in a plastic bag and inhaled; and sniffing, which is inhaling it from the container directly.
Chroming is more commonly known as inhaling “whippets,” which is a slang term for inhaling nitrous oxide-filled cartridges to achieve a temporary high. The practice of inhaling these cartridges is illegal, according to a Forbes report.
Why do people participate in chroming?
Although the practice is extremely dangerous, especially for kids, inhaling these substances causes a brief “euphoric effect.”
Participating in chroming is popular among Generation Z, according to the American Addiction Centers, and experimentation rates have soared for those between 16 and 24 years old postpandemic.
The trend has gained popularity on TikTok with millions of views on videos under the term “Whiptok,” The New York Post reported.
Videos of celebrities and influencers taking part in the trend have a strong influence on kids who later find themselves interested in participating.
Chroming dangers
Chroming can have lethal side effects, especially when inhaling toxic chemicals.
Health experts warn that inhaling these dangerous chemicals and substances can lead to brain damage, cardiac arrest and even death. Additional side effects include dizziness, vomiting, memory loss, a lower IQ and impaired judgment, according to the American Addiction Centers.
More specifically, the inhalants affect the central nervous system, leading to slowed-down brain activity, according to U.K. news outlet The Times.
12-year-old Cesar Watson-King fights for life
The trend has caused several heartbreaks over the past years, but most recently, it has left a 12-year-old British boy fighting for his life in the hospital, the Daily Mail reported.
The dangerous social media deodorant trend influenced Cesar Watson-King to allegedly inhale a can of antiperspirant last month.
Watson-King’s mother discovered him having a seizure on their kitchen floor due to the trend. The 12-year-old was rushed to the hospital where he suffered from additional seizures and cardiac arrest. He remains in a medically induced coma as medical professionals work to keep him alive, the report said.
However, 11-year-old Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington died from participating in the trend earlier this year. In March, the 11-year-old allegedly inhaled toxic chemicals during a sleepover at a friend’s house, according to The Times.
His grandmother said he was suspected of suffering cardiac arrest; however, local police said the boy’s death was “unexplained.”
Several similar deaths like Billington’s have been reported in the past several years, including Australian teen Esra Haynes, 13, who spent more than a week in the hospital before dying.