Chroming / Chroming Trend

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About

Chroming, also known as the Chroming Trend or Chroming Challenge, is an Australian slang term referring to solvent abuse (also known as "huffing"), the inhaling of volatile chemicals found in products including spray-on deodorant, glue, spray paint and chemicals housed inside aerosol cans. Chroming has led to the deaths of several teens in Australia throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, including Melbourne teenager Esra Haynes in April 2023 who died inhaling chemicals in deodorant, sparking increased discussions about the dangers of the act.

Origin

Chroming was first defined on Urban Dictionary ^[1] on July 7th, 2006, as, "The process of getting high from aerosol cans sprayed into a paper bag and inhaled." On January 29th, 2019, CareInMind^[2] published an article on the dangers of chroming. On September 4th, the 7NEWS Australia YouTube^[3] channel then posted a video reporting on a supposed "chroming epidemic" in Brisbane, which includes footage of young people chroming on the back of a bus. The report also claims a 12-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were badly burned while chroming after lighting a cigarette while attempting to inhale the flammable vapors, causing the can to explode (shown below). The report claims authorities were responding to three reports of chroming per day at the time.

Spread

On September 23rd, 2019, ABC News^[4] and the Daily Mail^[5] reported on a 15-year-old Brisbane resident, Rosie, who refused to stop chroming even though her cousin died from inhaling aerosol deodorant. On September 25th, ABC News^[6] published a story titled, "Chroming will 'dissolve the brain like melting plastic,'" in which an expert explains the dangers of the act. On June 22nd, 2020, News.com.au^[7] reported that an Australian teen died at a sleepover inhaling deodorant (shown below).

On February 16th, 2021, LADBible^[8] reported on a Gold Coast teen rushed to the hospital after chroming. On May 8th, 2022, 16-year-old Brooke reportedly died by chroming. A report by the Sydney Morning Herald^[9] claims she was found "lying face down and already stiff with a spray can of deodorant and a tea towel underneath her."

2023 Chroming Death of Esra Haynes

On April 9th, 2023, TikToker^[10] @matilda.ta posted a video mourning the death of 13-year-old Esra Haynes, an Australian teen who died that prior August 4th of chroming deodorant (shown below). The story was subsequently reported by Yahoo News^[11] on April 11th.

@matilda.ta
esra haynes, not only a beautiful girl but a girl who everyone loved. the fact you arent with us anymore breaks my heart you will always be a big part of everyones life. i hate the fact ill never be able to see your smile again or listen to ur laugh. never be able to walk into a place looking forward to seeing you. you were not only the person who never failed to make me the happiest ive ever been but u never failed to put a smile on anyones face when they’re around you. ur forever going to be my strong girl and one of my biggest blessings. ur my bsf and the person who was always there for anyone. keep spreading ur wings and flying high, rest easy in paradise bsf. forever 13 taken from us to soon. i love you always and forever no matter what my girl. ill try my best to make you proud angel. LLE 8.4.23 🤍🕊️

♬ sonido original – Blues dan🕊

On April 12th, 2023, the 7NEWS Australia YouTube^[12] channel uploaded a report on the death (shown below, left). On May 23rd, the A Current Affair YouTube^[13] channel then uploaded a video about the death, speaking with Haynes' parents and warning about the dangers of the act, garnering over 8,000 views in a day (shown below, right).

Witness Me

In the 2015 movie Mad Max: Fury Road, members of the War Boys spray their mouths with a chrome inhalant and stimulant before committing a kamikaze-type act in battle, shouting "WITNESS ME!" This scene then became the subject of memes following the film's release (example shown below).