How to Identify Inhalant Addiction and Seek Help 

New TikTok trends force more and more parents to ask: what is chroming, and why is it dangerous? 

“Chroming,” or huffing chemicals like metallic paint and posting the results online, is a now-banned tag used on TikTok. It is the latest example of use of inhaled substances to get high, a habit with roots in tobacco and hemp. This more modern variation uses manufactured chemical products rather than plants. Inhalant use can cover dozens of manufactured chemical products— from paint thinners and gasoline to butane lighters to permanent markers and spray paint. 

Inhalant users have the substance more readily available to them as compared to people who use  alcohol or illicit drugs like cocaine. Anyone, including minors, can buy these legalized  products for chroming purposes—and they are available for purchase almost anywhere. 

The harmful effects of chroming are as diverse as the chemicals stored in these containers. But most inhalants damage the lungs, heart, and brain, often permanently. Convincing a child or adolescent to stop chroming is difficult. Peer pressure and the illusion of safety around the issue of legal products are abundant. 

Origins of Chroming 

Though the use of manufactured chemical products by youth actually declined in the last decade. Unfortunately, social media resurrected the habit with a new name: chroming.  

Chroming became and remains popular because the materials used are cheap, readily available, and unregulated, which makes them accessible to vulnerable teens. Unlike alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or opiates, teenagers can afford and obtain inhalants within the boundaries of the law. They may not even need to leave their homes to get high.   

These everyday objects are neither regulated nor campaigned against in schools the way drugs and alcohol are. Minors, therefore, assume that because these substances aren’t banned, they are safer than harmful street drugs. They are wrong. 

Fortunately, social media has begun to push back after several incidents. TikTok has since banned chroming videos and related tags, and manually overrode their search results. Now, when users look for chroming and “WhipTok” videos, they instead find ways to get help and educational materials on its long-term health effects. 

How Chroming Affects the Brain 

The symptoms of chroming resemble heavy drinking—euphoria, slurred speech, lightheadedness, and reduced coordination. Beyond those common factors, the types of “highs” vary by substance: 

• Volatile solvents like paint thinners and felt-tip markers create euphoria and dizziness 
• Aerosols like spray paints and cooking sprays cause lightheadedness and confusion 
• Gases in propane tanks and refrigerants cause euphoria, numbness, and lightheadedness 
• Nitrites act as aphrodisiacs and relax the muscles

Watch for these symptoms around the house and consider whether children and teens have access to alcohol. If not, they may be using inhalants at home.  

How to Tell if Someone Has an Inhalant Addiction 

Inhalant addiction alters behavioral habits in addition to its chemical effects on the body. Sudden, drastic changes in mood, priorities, and purchasing behavior are all signs of this chemical addiction. 

How Inhalant Addiction Changes Behavior 

Watch for unpredictable behavior caused by withdrawal cravings, such as irritability and agitation. Teenagers’ spending habits may change as they buy and hoard more of their inhalant of choice, and they may become evasive about the stores they visit or how they spend their money.  

People with inhalant addictions make their next high their utmost priority. They cancel work, skip school, and disregard other responsibilities to get high. The chemical exposure and statistically likely comorbidity of mood disorders with addiction may cause anxiety or depression to emerge.

It’s important to note that these behaviors may be easily mistaken for typical teenage behavior. If unsure, watch for the physical symptoms associated with inhalant use. 

Symptoms of Chroming 

Inhalant addiction deals lasting damage to the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Teenagers who use or become addicted to inhalants may suddenly fall unconscious or vomit for no reason. 

Like their so-called benefits, the long-term risks of inhalant use vary with the substances used: 

• Solvents: liver, kidney, and brain damage 
• Aerosols: heart failure, asphyxiation, and frostbite 
• Gases: brain damage, heart failure, and asphyxiation 
• Nitrites: methemoglobinemia (low blood oxygen), low blood pressure, and heart failure 

The more severe symptoms may cause death if not treated right away. Watch for signs of an overdose, and if one seems imminent or ongoing, seek medical attention immediately. 

Signs of Inhalant Overdose 

Sleepiness, difficulty walking, slurred speech, headache, and nausea may seem like regular alcohol intoxication—but they are also all signs of inhalant overdose. Immediate medical attention is critical. 

Overdosing patients are dangerously dehydrated, have low potassium levels, and experience serious heart rhythm issues—all life-threatening problems. Convincing someone to stop inhalant use before they reach this point is difficult, but may save their life. 

How to Convince Someone With an Inhalant Addiction to Stop 

Remember, teens face social pressures to follow trends and chase clout. Teach them about its dangers with scientifically-founded sources and do not exaggerate—fragile lies discredit the value of the message. Then, set clear boundaries, expectations, and consequences for violating them. 

Empathize 

Remain open and caring, no matter what they might say or do. Don’t begin with threats or anger. Instead, acknowledge that they might be curious about what others do on social media and empathize with their actions. They wanted to fit in and try something they saw others doing that looked fun, legal, and safe.  

Educate 

Explain, while engaging them and asking questions (do not lecture), that nothing on social media is real, including chroming’s alleged safety. Show them unbiased sources that show how chroming alters their growing bodies.

Don’t try to scare them with exaggerated horror stories. Lies take away credibility, a rare and finite resource that’s needed at this critical point. 

Expectations 

Set a zero-tolerance policy for substance use while the child lives at home. Be clear that this behavior is not acceptable. Consider cutbacks in alcohol consumption or quitting smoking as a way to show solidarity, vulnerability, and a willingness to follow the rules. 

Establish reasonable consequences during the same conversation. For example, take away car keys or smartphones. This punishment is easy to enforce, easy for teens to conceptualize, and raises obstacles to obtaining more inhalants. They can’t leave the house to buy new substances or watch more videos of others chroming without a car or phone. 

Sometimes, this conversation comes too late. If the child needs medical attention after an inhalant overdose, seek immediate intervention. After they stabilize, find them long-term help at facilities like SoberMind Recovery. 

Call SoberMind Recovery to Learn More

Chroming, like many other addictions, often accompanies a mood disorder. These co-morbidities require “dual diagnosis” treatment. Los Angeles located parents should call SoberMind Recovery if they find their children suffering from addiction. There, they can access a variety of therapy programs for troubled teens, including queer-friendly LGBTQ sober living for those who need round-the-clock care. 

Contact SoberMind Recovery to learn more about your options.