Chroming isn’t new—it’s inhalant abuse under a different name. But it’s trending, and experts want parents to know the signs and how to talk to their kids about it.
A new trend that appears to have originated on social media has experts concerned and warning parents. It’s called chroming, and it claimed the life of Esra Hayes, a 13-year-old in Australia, in March.
Chroming is the act of intentionally inhaling chemicals or vapors for the purpose of intoxication,” says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., FACEP, FUHM, FACMT, a medical toxicologist, co-medical director and interim executive director of the National Capital Poison Center.
This type of behavior is not new. A 2017 report estimated that about 684,000 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 had reported using inhalants in the last year.1
“The recent resurgence is the distribution via TikTok,” says Robert Schwaner, M.D., the medical director of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of the Division of Toxicology at Stony Brook University Hospital. “Chroming itself has been going on for a long time.”
In fact, adults may have previously known of this behavior by another nickname, huffing, which is one way to engage in chroming. It’s formally known as inhalant abuse, says Betty Choi, M.D., a pediatrician and author.
“It’s a dangerous method of getting high,” says Dr. Choi.
Sniffing: Inhaling vapors directly from a container, such as a nail polish remover bottle.
Bagging: Inhaling vapors, like air freshener spray, directly from a plastic or paper bag.
Huffing: Inhaling gasoline, lighter fluid, or other vapors soaked into fabric.
“Since vapors are often more concentrated when soaked into fabric or sprayed into a bag, inhaling the chemicals by these methods can increase the amount of fumes inhaled and lead to a higher degree of intoxication,” Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.
Why is Chroming Trending?
The term chroming has been around since about 2009, but it’s recently gained popularity on social media. “Recently, a chroming challenge went viral on TikTok,” says Dr. Choi, adding that the news of Hayes’ death raised alarms.
