Last week, an 11-year-old boy in the UK succumbed to toxic chemical inhalation during a "chroming" challenge, a perilous trend involving inhaling hydrocarbons for a high. The family aims to raise awareness about this hazardous practice through their son's tragic story.
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Tragic Loss of 11-Year-Old in 'Chroming' TikTok Trend Sparks Family's Mission for Awareness and Prevention
Participating in a perilous social media trend, Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington, an 11-year-old from Lancaster, England, tragically lost his life, according to his family.
The ill-fated incident occurred during a sleepover at a friend's house, where the boys attempted the TikTok craze known as 'chroming.' Tommie-lee's grandmother, Tina Burns, expressed that their family is devastated by the incident and emphasized the need to bring attention to the circumstances surrounding her grandson's instant death.
Despite the police classifying Tommie-lee's death as 'unexplained,' the family firmly believes it resulted from his involvement in the dangerous social media trend. Tina Burns recounted the distressing details, revealing that Tommie-lee went into cardiac arrest immediately after attempting 'chroming,' and despite efforts at the hospital, he could not be revived. TikTok has denied that the trend is specific to its platform.
The grieving family is now committed to raising awareness about the dangers of the 'chroming' trend. Following the tragic loss of 13-year-old Esra Haynes from Australia who also fell victim to inhaling toxic chemicals last year, Tommie-lee's sister, Imogen, emphasized their mission to prevent similar incidents and spare other families from the profound anguish they experienced.
Chroming Explained: Risks and Consequences in Recreational Drug Use
Chroming, a form of recreational drug use, entails inhaling dangerous chemicals such as nail polish remover, hairspray, and paint thinners, leading to a transient euphoric effect. This practice, warned against by the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, can result in adverse effects like dizziness, vomiting, cardiac failure, and brain damage, according to the American Addiction Centers.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne emphasizes that breathing in these inhalants, especially in concentrated mixtures, can lead to momentary euphoria but is ultimately perilous to health.
The long-term repercussions of inhaling toxic substances encompass memory loss, reduced IQ, concentration difficulties, and impaired judgment, as revealed by a 2018 study published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research. Additionally, a widely recognized form of chroming involves inhaling "whippits," slang for nitrous oxide-filled cartridges. While nitrous oxide is legally used to inflate balloons, inhaling these cartridges is illegal.
Also known as huffing, this trend involves using household products to inhale chemical vapors recreationally, impacting organs and causing cognitive abnormalities. In 2015, 684,000 adolescents and 1.8 million individuals participated in this practice.
According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation based in Australia, consistent inhalant use is associated with increased occurrences of depression, anxiety, and other substance abuse problems.
While inhalant use may not directly lead to these conditions, it has the potential to worsen or trigger them. Additionally, individuals who use inhalants regularly are more prone to encountering stressful events, as highlighted by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
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