In a dangerous development in drug abuse, chrome is on the rise among teens who want to get high, CNN reported on September 27th.

This practice involves intoxication by inhaling hydrocarbons found in everyday household products such as aerosol deodorants, nail polish, and metallic paint. Despite its seemingly harmless properties, chromium poses serious health risks, experts say. According to CNN. Dr. Anthony Pizon, chief of pharmaceutical toxicology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, explains that the term “chroming” comes from the metal residue left on the face after inhaling metallic paint. This is similar to huffing, where people inhale fumes of various substances through their noses and mouths, often through damp cloths or plastic bags.

“According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, inhalant abuse peaked in the 1990s and has been on the decline over the past two decades. But in recent years, experimentation rates among teens have risen again. The paper reported that pediatrician and author Dr. Betty Choi said: The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that more than 500,000 adolescents will use inhalants in 2023, a slight increase from the previous year.

For the younger generation, “chrome plating” is the new huff. This dangerous practice involves misusing a variety of legal products, including permanent marker, aerosol deodorant, and nail polish, and getting high by inhaling hydrocarbons, CNN reports. https://t.co/6PBNmhj8qC

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) September 27, 2024

The effects of chromium are similar to those of alcohol, with immediate symptoms such as euphoria, lightheadedness, and disinhibition. But it can also lead to serious consequences, including nausea, heart problems, seizures and even death, the newspaper reported. “We cannot predict the amount and frequency that will lead to lethality,” Choi says, emphasizing that in some cases, a single session can be fatal. (Related article: “She had slurred speech”: Family outing to restaurant, 2-year-old daughter gets drunk)

Chromium treatments can be difficult for parents to identify because many of the substances used are common household products. Symptoms to watch out for include frequent nosebleeds, pain around the mouth and nose, and decreased academic performance, the newspaper reported. To reduce risk, experts advise removing or guarding these products and maintaining open communication with youth about drug use.

“The best way to approach chrome plating is to approach it like any other hazard: by continuing the conversation over time,” Choi suggested, according to the newspaper. This approach, combined with empathy and support, can prevent dangerous experimentation and guide teens toward safer choices.