'Chroming' trend among teens linked to TikTok videos

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A resurgence of the dangerous practice known as “chroming,” where individuals inhale toxic fumes from household items like nail polish remover and aerosol deodorants to get high, has been linked to viral videos on the social media platform TikTok, according to new research. The findings, presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, highlight a disturbing trend among teens, the platform's largest user demographic.

The abstract, “Chroming Crisis: An Analysis of Chroming Related Content on TikTok,” examines the prevalence of chroming-related content on TikTok to educate pediatricians on teen behavior and inhalant abuse.

Chroming, also called "huffing," creates a brief euphoric state that can lead to repeated use and addiction. Inhalant abuse, however, poses serious health risks, including dizziness, brain damage, and even death. “What is particularly concerning about chroming is that it uses everyday household items that are easily accessible to teens,” said Keerthi Krishna, research assistant at Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center and first author of the study. “The covert nature of these items means that parents and teachers are less likely to detect the behavior, significantly increasing the risk of repeated usage and addiction among adolescents.”

The study analyzed the top TikTok videos tagged with #huffing and #chroming, with a total of 109 videos meeting the inclusion criteria. Together, these videos had amassed over 25.7 million views. Researchers collected data on video creator age, gender, the items used, and whether the videos referenced repeated usage or addiction. The study also analyzed the presence of memes, defined as posts emulating popular trends on the platform.

The findings revealed that minors were responsible for 39% of the chroming-related content, with college-aged individuals accounting for 26% and young adults making up 22%. A significant portion of the creators (13%) remained anonymous. Regarding gender, 50% of the creators were perceived as female, 31% as male, and 19% remained anonymous.

Markers were the most common chroming item featured in the videos (31%), followed by air duster (17%), nail polish (12%), and other harmful substances like paint thinner, gasoline, spray deodorant, and hair spray. Moreover, more than half (52%) of the videos referenced repeated use or addiction, emphasizing the high potential for dependency.

Another alarming trend noted was the prevalence of memes, with 70% of the analyzed videos using memes to frame chroming in a humorous or lighthearted way. Some popular memes included phrases like “in X years when the [chroming item] catches up to me,” and visuals involving towels and deodorant. Researchers warned that such memes could normalize the behavior, potentially leading teens to see chroming as a socially acceptable or even “safer” alternative to more traditional drugs.

“This study underscores the urgent need for increased moderation efforts from social media platforms like TikTok to stop the dissemination of chroming content,” the researchers concluded. They also called on pediatricians to proactively discuss the dangers of chroming with parents and teens, given how easily accessible the items used for chroming are in most households.

As the chroming trend gains momentum on social media, it serves as a reminder of the risks posed by everyday household products when misused. Parents, educators, and pediatricians alike are urged to remain vigilant as this dangerous behavior continues to spread online.

Reference:

Dangerous practice ‘chroming’ featured in videos on social media platform popular among youth. Eurekalert. September 27, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1058506