What Is Chroming? Dangers of This Risky Teen Trend

Chroming is a form of inhalant abuse, more commonly known as “huffing”, and refers to inhaling the fumes of chroming spray, an aerosol spray paint. Common forms of chroming involve inhaling via nose or mouth either directly from the container, or from a rag or paper bag saturated with the spray paint. 

Other common inhalants include glue, gas, nail polish, and lighter fluid. In fact, over 1,000 common household and workplace products are often misused as inhalants. They are accessible, affordable, discreet, and technically legal, making them more vulnerable to teenage abuse [2]. 

Research shows that the highest rates of inhalant abuse occur between the ages of 14 and 15, with teenage boys more likely to abuse inhalants than girls. As of 2022, over 500,000 teens reported using inhalants [3]. 

Where Did The Term “Chroming” Come From? 

The term chroming comes from inhaling metallic spray paint from a rag, which often leaves a chrome or metallic residue on the face. 

Pediatrician and author of Human Body Learning Lab: Take An Inside Tour of How Your Anatomy Works, Dr. Betty Choi, says: “According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, inhalant abuse peaked in the 1990s and was downtrending over the last two decades. But in recent years, experimentation rates among teens have risen again.” One large contributor to this upward trend is the influence of social media, such as TikTok trends or Instagram challenges [1]

This upward trend is largely due to dangerous TikTok trends or Instagram challenges like the “chroming challenge”. 

“The chroming challenge” originated in Australia and went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram under terms such as “#WhipTok” (this plays on the term “whippets” to refer to the general practice of inhaling substances such as nitrous oxide) [1].

Recognize Signs of Chroming in Your Teen

Teens who engage in chroming may show both physical and behavioral signs that indicate inhalant abuse. Recognizing these early symptoms is important to provide early intervention and prevent serious harm or even death. Some of the signs of inhalant abuse in teens include: 

• Slurred speech or dizziness, similar to being drunk 
• Unsteady walking or loss of coordination
• Red, watery, or runny eyes and nosebleeds
• Chemical odors on breath, skin, or clothing
• Sores, rashes, or redness around the mouth and nose (“huffer’s rash”)
• Unusual stains or paint marks on skin or clothing
• Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
• Mood swings, irritability, confusion, or anxiety
• Secretive behavior, hiding empty aerosol cans, paint tubes, or rags soaked with chemicals
• Sudden decline in school performance or missing school

Health Risks Associated with Chroming

Teens have reported that they don’t see huffing or choking as a big deal compared to other drug use, as many of the substances are easily found in the home. However, inhalant abuse in early teens greatly raises the risk of other drug use, Dr. Pizon describes, “kids that are engaging in this activity are likely at risk of seeking more potent drugs.” 

It can also lead to severe physical and mental health consequences such as cardiac arrest, liver and kidney damage, and brain cell death, short attention span, and reduced memory.  

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

Chroming can cause cardiac arrhythmias, leading to sudden heart failure even in first-time users. It is particularly associated with the abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols.

This risk is unpredictable and can cause death without warning during or shortly after inhalation [4].

Cognitive Impairment 

Inhalants increase the risk of neurological damage, including cortical atrophy (shrunken brain cortex) and dementia. Users experience memory loss, impaired judgment, difficulty concentrating, and long-term cognitive decline [5].

Motor Impairment

Acute intoxication causes loss of coordination, slurred speech, dizziness, and hallucinations. Chronic abuse leads to neuropathy, muscle spasms, and even seizures [5].

Organ Damage 

Toxic chemicals in chroming can weaken the liver, cause kidney dysfunction, and even lead to hepatitis from chemicals such as toluene. Chronic exposure to aerosols can suppress bone marrow, leading to anemia and immune issues [5]. 

Mental Health Disorders 

Chroming is linked to symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, paranoia, anxiety, and depression. Long-term inhalant abuse also increases the risk of psychosis in adolescents [1].

Can Chroming Kill You? 

Despite many teens perceiving inhalant abuse as “safe” due to their easy accessibility and legality, multiple teens have died over recent years from this dangerous challenge. 

In March of 2023, a 13-year-old Australian girl died after participating in this challenge by inhaling deodorant fumes. Similarly, an 11-year-old boy in the UK died in 2024 from chroming [6]. 

Despite TikTok banning tags related to chroming, the challenge continues and can lead to severe brain damage, cardiac arrest, and death in teens due to the highly toxic nature of the substances inhaled. The challenge continues to raise concerns among parents and health authorities due to its fatal consequences and its ongoing spread on social media.

Inhalant Abuse Prevention and Education for Teens

It is essential for parents, caregivers, pediatricians, teen mental health experts, and anyone else who works with youth to explain the risks to teens who often lack knowledge of them. 

Some ways to talk to your teen about substance use and prevent inhalant abuse include: 

• Educate teens about the serious risks of inhalant abuse, emphasizing that common household products can be extremely harmful and addictive.
• Address social media and viral trends like TikTok challenges that glamorize or normalize drug use, countering them with facts.
• Implement life skills training in schools to teach decision-making, refusal skills, and healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress.
• Reduce access by safely storing or limiting the availability of household products that can be abused, teaching families to monitor their use.
• Train pediatricians, educators, and youth workers to recognize inhalant abuse signs.
• Encourage mental health support to address underlying issues like anxiety or depression that increase the risk of inhalant abuse. 

Teen Inhalant Abuse Treatment in Texas  

Clearfork Academy provides specialized inhalant abuse treatment for teens in Texas, focused on stabilizing youth and breaking destructive substance use habits. We combine clinical practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with spiritual guidance and social support to address the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of teenage drug abuse. 

Aware of modern risks on today’s generation, we also educate teens about dangerous social media trends such as TikTok challenges that promote inhalant abuse, helping teens understand the harms and prevention strategies. 

Through individualized care, group support, and family involvement, we empower teens to build lasting recovery and resilience in a safe, structured setting. Parents and teens seeking help can trust Clearfork’s comprehensive approach, explicitly tailored to the developmental needs of recovering teens. Contact our admissions team.

Sources

[1] Rogers, K. 2024. ‘Chroming’ is killing some kids. Experts explain this trend. CNN.

[2] NIDA. 2024. Inhalants. 

[3] NIH. 2022. Adolescent Substance Use Holds Steady in 2022. 

[4] Isbister, G. K. (2025). Rare but relevant: Hydrocarbons and sudden sniffing syndrome. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 120(9), 1884–1888.

[5] Lawrence, A. (2008). Inhalant abuse among adolescents: neurobiological considerations. British journal of pharmacology, 154(2), 316–326.

[6] Lowbridge, C. 2023. Dad’s warning after girl, 14, dies from inhaling deodorant. BBC.