'Chroming': Dangerous huffing trend gains popularity on TikTok, led by minors
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Key takeaways:
- Out of 109 videos about chroming, 39% of creators were minors.
- Chroming and Galaxy Gas “whippets” are two emerging trends that have become popular among young people.
Videos about “chroming” — or inhaling fumes from common household items — are gaining popularity online, especially among minors, according to research presented at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition.
“Chroming, also known as huffing, is the act of inhaling toxic fumes from household items such as nail polish remover, permanent markers and/or aerosol deodorant,” Keerthi Krishna, a high school student and research assistant at Cohen Children’s Northwell Health in New York, and colleagues, wrote. “Chroming typically produces a short euphoric state which creates high potential for repeated usage and addiction.”
Krishna’s study was part of the Teen Trends Initiative at Cohen Children’s Northwell Health. Ruth L Milanaik, DO, associate professor of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Hempstead, New York, said the 8-week program is used to recruit high school, college and premedical students to choose a topic and conduct a research study over the summer.
Krishna and colleagues analyzed 109 TikTok videos — with more than 25 million combined views — tagged with #huffing and #chroming and found that the largest proportion of video creators were minors (39%). The rest of the creators were college aged (26%), young adults (22%) or anonymous (13%).
“This figure was concerning, but not entirely surprising as minors are a large user demographic of TikTok,” Krishna told Healio. “Our study highlights how adolescents are vulnerable to social media trends and peers that may influence them to engage in and/or spread risky behaviors.”
The most common items used in the videos were markers (31%) and air duster (17%). Other items included nail polish (12%), paint thinner (11%), gasoline (11%), spray deodorant (11%) and hair spray (6%).
Half of the videos (52%) mentioned repeated use or addiction, Krishna and colleagues reported.
Like chroming, another emerging trend among youth is inhaling Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide dispensers to experience a feeling of euphoria.
“Our research group has conducted similar studies investigating the presence of ‘whippets’ on TikTok as well,” Krishna said. “The Galaxy Gas trend fits into the broader pattern of adolescents abusing accessible substances, similar to chroming, and combining the data from these two studies may help guide preventive measures and education for both health care providers and caregivers.”
Krishna said pediatricians should proactively educate their patients and caregivers about the dangers of chroming.
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Krishna K, et al. Abstract A009. Presented at: AAP National Conference and Exhibition; Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2024; Orlando.
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