A surge in inhalant use fueled by TikTok is putting children’s lives at risk, researchers warn. In a new study, researchers collected and analyzed dozens of videos that have racked up millions of views and feature the trend known as “chroming.”
Inhalant use has long been a persistent public health problem. The various vapors or gases used as inhalants cause a euphoric effect, although usually short-lived, but prolonged use can cause complications such as brain damage or even death. The researchers behind this new study say TikTok has sparked new interest in inhalants among children and teens. In recent years, several families have alleged that their children were seriously injured or died from using inhalants after they were encouraged to do so as part of a viral “chrome challenge” hosted on the platform.
The scientists analyzed 109 videos related to chrome plating on the social media platform that together had more than 25 million views. They looked for details such as the age and gender of the creator, any specific inhalants mentioned, and whether the creator discussed repeated use and addiction. Permanent markers appeared to be the most frequently referenced inhalant, with about a third of the videos talking about them, followed by feather dusters, nail polish, paint thinners and gasoline, the researchers found. More than half of the videos also allude to addiction. The team’s findings will be presented this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2024 National Conference and Exposition.
“What’s particularly concerning about chrome plating is that it uses everyday household items that are easily accessible to teenagers,” said senior scientist Keerthi Krishna, a research assistant at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, in a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The covert nature of these items means that parents and teachers are less likely to detect the behavior, significantly increasing the risk of repeated use and addiction among adolescents.”
Krishna and his team say parents and pediatricians need to be more aware of the dangers of inhalant use. In response to the alleged chroming deaths, TikTok banned the search term “chroming challenge” and other related words earlier this year. These terms now return a warning about inhalant use. But the journalists of Yahoo News We were still able to find some videos related to chroming after the ban (when TikTok was notified about this, the videos were removed). Researchers say social media companies should do more to prevent this type of content from spreading further.
TikTok isn’t the only factor that could be driving inhalant use. Children have been gravitating toward specific brands of inhalants sold in stores or online, particularly nitrous oxide products (often used to make whipped cream) sold by culinary company Galaxy Gas. The company has now stopped sales of its whipped cream tubs and added a detailed alert about misuse of its products immediately after your visit. your store website.