Viral 'dusting' trend explained as parents of 19-year-old girl who died after trying it warn others about its deadly risks
Parents are warning of the deadly risks of a viral trend following the death of their daughter.
Also known as ‘chroming’ or ‘huffing’, the social media challenge of ‘dusting’ led to 19-year-old Renna O’Rourke suffering a cardiac arrest.
Her mum and dad said they hadn’t even heard of the trend before the ‘vivacious and caring and loyal’ American teen lost her life as a result.
And now they are aiming to honour her legacy by making others aware of ‘dusting’ and the ease for young people and children to be able to do it.
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It’s already claimed the lives of many, with teens and children in both the UK and around the world risking their health by partaking in the viral challenge.
Searches for it have even been banned on some sites as doctors continue to warn of the effects.
What is 'dusting'?
Known by various names, the online trend sees people inhaling common household cleaners to get a brief ‘high’. The chemicals affect the central nervous system and cause a feeling similar to being drunk as the brain essentially slows down.
Experts have warned that simple items around the home could be used in the deadly trend.
Dr Michael McKinney previously explained to LADbible: “When inhaled, these chemicals can cause immediate and long-term damage.”
Death of Renna O’Rourke
Renna and her boyfriend had ordered aerosol keyboard cleaner on a delivery app to her parents’ home to partake in the ‘dusting’ challenge.
But following inhalation, the teen went into cardiac arrest.
“She spent the next seven days in the ICU. She never regained consciousness,” her mum, Dana, told Arizona’s Family, as she was eventually declared brain-dead.
“We don’t have children to bury them.”
Following her death, they are strongly warning other parents about how easily accessible these chemicals are.
“There’s no ID required. It’s odourless. It’s everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn’t show in mom and dad’s drug test,” Dana said.
“Don’t take your kids word for it. Dig deep. Search their rooms. Don’t trust and that sounds horrible, but it could save their life.”
Deadly risks
Author and paediatrician Dr Betty Choi explained to CNN that while ‘chroming’, ‘dusting’ and ‘huffing’ might be a 21st century trend, it’s not necessarily a new practice.
“People have been inhaling fumes for centuries,” the doctor said.
“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.”
The experts also listed the consequences of repeated chroming which can include: “Poor performance at school, kidney or liver dysfunction, electrolyte disturbances, neuropathy, addiction, brain or heart damage, memory and concentration problems, ulcers, nosebleeds, mental health disorders, and mood changes such as apathy, paranoia or irritability.”
Dr McKinney also warned that, as well as the long-term effects over time, there are also sudden impacts, like the cardiac arrest Renna suffered.
“The use of inhalants may lead to the sudden failure of the heart commonly known as ‘sudden sniffing death syndrome’ and this may happen to a first-time user of the product,” the doctor said.
Topics: Parenting, Mental Health, Health, Viral, Social Media
Jess Battison