A surge in inhalant use sparked by TikTok is endangering children’s lives, researchers warn. In a new study, researchers collected and analyzed dozens of videos that have amassed millions of views that exemplify the trend, known as “chroming.”
Inhalation use has long been an ongoing public health problem. Various vapors or gases used as inhalants can cause a euphoric feeling that, while usually short-lived, can lead to complications such as brain damage and even death with long-term use. Researchers of the new study say TikTok has sparked new interest in inhalants among children and teens. In recent years, some families have claimed that their children were seriously injured or died from using inhalants after being encouraged by the platform’s viral “Chromium Challenge.”
Scientists analyzed 109 chrome-related videos on social media platforms, which had been viewed a total of more than 25 million times. They look for details such as the creator’s age and gender, any mention of specific inhalants, and whether the creator has discussed reuse and addiction. The researchers found that permanent markers appeared to be the most commonly mentioned inhalants, with about a third of the videos discussing them, followed by air dusters, nail polish, paint thinner and gasoline. More than half of the films also addressed addiction. The team’s findings will be presented this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2024 National Meeting and Exhibition.
“What makes chrome plating particularly concerning is the use of everyday household items that are easily accessible to teenagers,” Keerthi Krishna, a research associate and chief scientist at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, said in a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The hidden nature of these items is This means that parents and teachers are less likely to detect these behaviors, significantly increasing the risk of repeat use and addiction among adolescents.”
Krishna and her team say parents and pediatricians need to be more aware of the dangers of inhalants. In response to the alleged chromium deaths, TikTok banned the search term “chromium challenge” and other related terms earlier this year. These terms now return warnings about inhalant use. But Yahoo News reporters were still able to find some Chrome-related videos after the ban (these videos had been removed by the time they notified TikTok of the incident). Researchers say social media companies should do more to prevent such content from spreading further.
TikTok isn’t the only factor that may be driving inhalant use. Children have been gravitating toward certain brands of inhalants sold in stores or online, particularly nitrous oxide products sold by cooking company Galaxy Gas (often used to make whipped cream). The company has now stopped selling its whipped cream cans and added detailed warnings about misuse of its products as soon as its store website was visited.
