Chroming, commonly referred to as huffing, has emerged as a concerning trend among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. This dangerous practice involves inhaling harmful fumes and has resulted in tragic, sometimes fatal outcomes.
The TikTok trend “chroming” has reportedly claimed the lives of several young individuals after gaining popularity as a viral challenge on the platform.
One notable victim was Esra Haynes, a 13-year-old student from Melbourne, Australia. Tragically, Esra passed away on March 31, 2023, due to exposure to toxic chemicals while attending a sleepover and participating in the TikTok trend. It is believed she inhaled an aerosol deodorant, which led to her untimely death.
After taking part in the activity, Haynes suffered irreparable brain damage and went into cardiac arrest, as reported by The Sun. She remained in the hospital for a week before passing away.
Esra’s parents are now cautioning others about the dangers of chroming, which has gained traction on social media. Paul Haynes stated on the Australian TV show ‘A Current Affair‘: “Esra would have never consented to this if she had understood the repercussions. That it could end her life.”
What is the Chroming Challenge on Social Media?
The term ‘chroming’ is an informal expression that originated in Australia. It specifically refers to the act of inhaling vapors from hazardous substances, including aerosol cans, spray deodorants, or paint containers.
@psych_nurse_insight The effects of chroming on the brain 🧠 #mentalhealthmatters #fyp #studentnurses #nurselife #nursesoftiktok #australiannursingstudent #dayinthelifenurse #healthcareworker #australiannurse #nurseknowledge #chroming #brainchanges
On TikTok, users participating in ‘chroming’ often post under the term ‘WhipTok’, which is slang for the recreational use of nitrous oxide. This term has garnered over 546.3 million views on the platform.
Despite its newfound notoriety, chroming is not a recent phenomenon. For instance, a U.S. report indicated that an estimated 684,000 adolescents engaged in huffing or sniffing chemicals in 2015.
Experts suggest that the popularity of inhalants among teens is due to their low cost, legal status, and ease of access. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), “they present a high risk for abuse, particularly among children and young adults.”
The National Retail Association in Australia acknowledges that while the term “chroming” has broadened, its origins lie in the practice of inhaling chrome-based paint to achieve a euphoric high.
Common toxic substances involved are aerosol sprays, paint, solvents, permanent markers, nail polish remover, hairspray, deodorants, lighter fluid, glue, cleaning products, nitrous oxide, and gasoline.
What Are the Risks of Chroming?
Chroming entails inhaling hazardous substances to produce a temporary high, similar to alcohol intoxication. However, this activity can lead to severe adverse effects, including heart attacks, seizures, suffocation, coma, choking, or fatal injuries, and may cause irreversible organ damage.
Chronic inhalant abuse might result in cognitive deficiencies, including an inability to focus, memory loss, impaired judgment, and decreased IQ, as stated in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research.
Another Teen Dies Potentially Linked to TikTok “Chroming” Challenge
In September 2023, another young life was lost, possibly due to the TikTok “chroming” phenomenon, as Irish authorities looked into the death of 14-year-old Sarah Mescall.
According to Irish Independent reports, Mescall died on September 25, merely three days after her admission to Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin. She reportedly collapsed after engaging in the “chroming” challenge and regained consciousness long enough to explain the incident to her mother before fainting again.
Sarah was subsequently placed in a medically-induced coma but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.
TikTok Addresses Teen’s Death Linked to “Chroming” Challenge
In response to Sarah Mescall’s death, TikTok issued a statement confirming that “content of this nature is prohibited on our platform and will be removed if identified.”
“We are committed to prioritizing the safety of our community, collaborating with experts, and providing resources for those in need,” TikTok added.
11-Year-Old Boy Dies After Allegedly Trying the “Chroming” Challenge
On March 6, 2024, reports emerged of an 11-year-old boy deceased after allegedly trying the “chroming” challenge during a sleepover.
Tommy-Lee with his father.
Authorities discovered the boy unresponsive at the location, and he was later pronounced dead in the hospital.
The boy’s grandmother expressed her outrage towards TikTok in a statement to local news, emphasizing her desire to see TikTok banned for good to prevent further tragedies.
“We want TikTok taken down, and to restrict social media access for children under 16,” she stated. “This is breaking our family, but we aim to save other children’s lives and inform families about these dangers.”
Man Arrested in Connection with 11-Year-Old’s Death from TikTok “Chroming” Challenge
In June 2024, Lancashire Police reported that a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of “child cruelty, neglect, possession with intent to supply drugs, and money laundering” in relation to Tommy-Lee’s death.
A 35-year-old woman was also questioned regarding allegations of “possession with intent to supply” during the investigation.
12-Year-Old Girl Hospitalized After Allegedly Attempting “Chroming” Challenge
A 37-year-old mother in the UK has issued a warning to parents after her 12-year-old daughter, Tiegan, was hospitalized for inhaling “five or six cans” of spray deodorant. This incident occurred during a sleepover where she tried the viral “chroming” challenge in April 2024.
Mikayla Solomon rushed her daughter to the ER after Tiegan exhibited concerning symptoms such as “dizziness and heart palpitations.”
Although Tiegan was initially released with a clean bill of health, she subsequently experienced additional symptoms like “severe diarrhea, sulfuric burps, and a sensation that everything was in slow motion,” according to the New York Post.
Mikayla reported that Tiegan vomited for “two weeks straight,” and although they returned to the ER for further testing, results revealed no complications. Now, Mikayla aims to use her experience to inform other parents about the potential dangers of social media on children.
“Parents need to be aware of these risks,” Mikayla stressed. “If you suspect your child may have done something similar, seek medical attention. It can cause lasting harm.”
12-Year-Old Boy Goes into Cardiac Arrest After Inhaling Aerosol Deodorant
Nichola King, a 36-year-old mother of four, found her 12-year-old son Cesar seizing on the floor after he reportedly attempted the “chroming” challenge. This incident occurred in the summer of 2024 after an older friend introduced him to the TikTok trend.
“He turned blue and stopped breathing. I feared he had died,” Nichola, who performed CPR, recounted.
Upon reaching the hospital, Cesar was placed into a medically-induced coma for 48 hours after experiencing cardiac arrest. Fortunately, he regained strength and was discharged after eight days.
Nonetheless, the 12-year-old now suffers from memory impairment, as his mother noted that his short-term memory is “very poor,” adding that Cesar does not recall participating in the challenge.
@dailymailuk A 12-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after a dangerous TikTok deodorant trend went disastrously wrong, causing cardiac arrest. Cesar Watson-King, from Doncaster, had allegedly inhaled a can of anti-perspirant last month after being shown the social media craze, ‘chroming’, by an older boy. #chroming #deodorant #news #tragic #uknews #doncaster #coma #cardiacarrest #seizure #socialmedia #tiktoktrend ♬ original sound – Daily Mail UK
Similar to other parents of children who have attempted the chroming challenge, Nichola shared her son’s experience to discourage others from trying the trend.
She also advised Cesar to avoid any such dangerous activities in the future – something he assured her he would adhere to.
This is not the only perilous trend that has gone viral on TikTok. While the platform has made efforts to limit the spread of such trends, including removing related hashtags, it hasn’t always sufficed. Here’s a list of some of the most hazardous or controversial trends that have surfaced on TikTok.
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