A social media trend known as chroming took the life of a teenager last year. The teenager’s family decided to release a statement in hopes of raising awareness about the dangerous trends.
Nicky Lowther, who was only 13, passed away after he was found unconscious in his house after he decided to partake in the viral trend. The late teenager’s mother found him unresponsive on June 27.
Toni, who is the deceased teenager’s aunt, spoke about how his passing away could have been easily prevented. She remembers her nephew fondly and shares that he was a “cheeky chap.” She also revealed that the 13-year-old possessed a dark humour and was very funny. “We were close. We always did things as a family,” she added.
Toni went on to note how she was unaware of the trend before the tragedy struck. “I heard afterwards about people doing it and dying or making it through the other side,” Nikcy’s aunt recalled.
The trend requires an individual to inhale hydrocarbons by abusing several common products found around the house. According to a CNN report, permanent markers, aerosol deodorant, nail polish, metallic paint, and a computer duster are a few of the products.
Gen Z loves ‘chroming:’ Doctors sound alarm on lethal trend, issue urgent warning to parents https://t.co/4cRoMBmlmi pic.twitter.com/PIVhpSHPoT
— New York Post (@nypost) September 28, 2024
Teenagers participating in the trend inhaled the fumes directly from the product, used a cloth soaked with the product, or inhaled from a plastic bag. The extremely dangerous practice can cause damage to a person’s heart, liver, or kidneys. The trend can also lead to a person’s brain being damaged permanently.
When Nicky was found unconscious at his home, 12 cans of aerosol cans surrounding him. The teenager’s aunt revealed how she hadn’t even thought of educating her own kids about the safe use of deodorant until the incident.
Toni recalled how by the time they managed to get her nephew to the hospital, he had already passed away. “We found out he’d been inhaling aerosols, but I didn’t know the severity of it,’ she added.
A 12-year-old boy has been hospitalized attempting the dangerous TikTok trend, Chroming pic.twitter.com/Bhy9lflQ2i
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) September 2, 2024
The teenager’s aunt noted that the number of aerosol cans Nicky inhaled the day he passed away remains unknown. “There’s no safe way of inhaling aerosols, it’s dangerous,” Toni added. Aerosols are available for anybody to purchase at the moment; a person of any age can buy them.
The deceased teenager’s family is fighting to change the law. “Nicky couldn’t be saved, but hopefully his story can save other children from doing it,” Toni noted. Nicky’s family has managed to get 5,000 signatures on the petition to change the law.
