Before many parents have had time to distract themselves from their children’s fascination with laundry detergent pods, another killer trend has emerged online. This time, children are encouraged to target many objects found in every home.
A dangerous new trend gaining popularity among teenagers, chrome plating involves inhaling fumes from household products such as nail polish, pens or sprays to achieve a temporary high. While the term “chroming” may seem new, the practice itself, formerly known as huffing or grunting and gaining popularity once again, has a long history among young people seeking easily accessible alternatives to illicit drugs, Health writes.
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Expert Bruce Ruck, PharmD, of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, emphasizes that inhaling these substances is very dangerous and addictive. Data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows an estimated 564,000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 will use inhalants in 2023; this is an increase from 2022.
Important
This resurgence is due in part to social media platforms like TikTok, which attract younger audiences by normalizing viral content on Chrome, according to Rachel Kim, a researcher at Cohen Children’s Northwell Health. Many young people use pencils, sprays or nail polish for chrome plating, and some videos even get millions of views under hashtags related to this action.
Hannah Hayes, chief of toxicology at the Central Ohio Poison Center, emphasizes that children can experience dizziness, nausea or unsteadiness, as well as more dangerous effects such as abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even death. There was a tragic incident in the UK this year where an 11-year-old boy died after trying chrome plating during a sleepover, clearly demonstrating that even a single exposure can be fatal.
Experts warn that because of chromium’s widespread availability and perceived low risk promoted in internet memes and videos, many young people view chromium as a safer alternative to other drugs. Measures to reduce the risk of chrome plating include parental attention and education. Experts advise parents to ensure that their children do not have access to products such as nail polish and dust bags, and to be careful about sudden changes in household items. Social media use should also be controlled with open, non-judgmental conversations about the dangers of chrome plating. Encouraging children to understand the risks can help reduce incidents of abuse, and experts like Ruck and Hayes recommend creating a safe environment for such discussions.
Inhalant use has long been recognized as an important public health problem. The National Institute on Drug Abuse emphasizes that inhalants, such as those used in chromium, act directly on the central nervous system and can lead to long-term neurological damage or sudden death. In particular, this practice tends to increase among the young population due to the easy availability of substances found in commonly used household products.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.