TikTok warning over horror ‘chroming’ trend after shocking death of teen girl
TEENS and parents are being warned after a 13-year-old died in the latest drug trend that has become popularized on social media.
An Australian teen passed away after inhaling toxic chemicals in a trend called 'chroming'.
Esra Haynes was just 13 when she died after inhaling chemicals at a sleepover on March 31, 2023.
Haynes went into cardiac arrest and sustained irreparable brain damage after engaging in the activity.
She spent a week in the hospital before passing away.
Haynes' parents are now warning others of the dangers of chroming, which has become particularly popular on social media.
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"Esra would've never have done this if she'd had known the consequences. That it could take your life," Paul Haynes told A Current Affair.
"The ripple effect is that this is absolutely devastating, we've got no child to bring home," Andrea Haynes continued.
Esra’s sister, Imogen, told 7News: “We definitely have a mission to raise awareness for kids and anyone that does it.
“We don’t want that to happen to anyone else. We don’t want another family to go through this, it’s absolutely horrible.”
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On TikTok, users engaging in 'chroming' post videos under the term 'WhipTok', a slang term for the recreational use of nitrous oxide.
'Whiptok' has over 546.3 million views on the platform.
Chroming involves inhaling toxic substances to create a temporary high.
It gives a temporary high, similar to the effects of alcohol.
However, the activity can result in heart attack, seizures, suffocation, coma, choking, or fatal injury and can cause permanent organ damage.
Long-term abuse of the drug can lead to cognitive impairment, including the inability to concentrate, memory loss, impaired judgment, and a lower IQ, according to the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research.
Many children have suffered the fatal consequences of partaking in online challenges.
KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE
Internet expert Allison Troutner listed eight ways to keep kids safe online:
- Consider a family "tech agreement"
- Report any harmful content that you see
- Balance safety with independence
- Keep the computer in a common space
- Password-protect all accounts and devices
- Update your operating systems regularly
- Install security or antivirus software programs and a VPN on your computer
- Set parental controls
Find out more about each step in this article by The Sun.
