11-year-old U.K. boy dies after trying dangerous TikTok trend

An 11-year-old boy in the U.K. died last week after participating in a dangerous social media trend that can pose major health risks.

Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington, suffered a suspected cardiac arrest on Saturday after taking part in what TikTok users call “chroming,” his family told local media.

Chroming, also known as “huffing,” is the act of inhaling the fumes of household chemicals such as nail polish remover, hairspray, aerosol deodorant or permanent markers.

Despite the trend recently gaining attention on social media, a 2017 report found that 684,000 adolescents engaged in huffing or sniffing chemicals in 2015 in the U.S.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), certain chemical vapours and toxic fumes produce a high when breathed in.

“Most of the substances used as inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, cleaning solvents and aerosols, have legitimate everyday uses, but they were never meant for human consumption,” states the CAMH website. “Inhalants are cheap, legal and easy to get. They have a high potential for abuse — especially by children and young adults.”

CAMH also reports that the majority of people who use solvents and aerosols are between 10 and 16 years old.

According to the American Addiction Centers, these inhalants can lead to dizziness, vomiting, cardiac failure and brain damage.

A study published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research found that long-term effects could include memory loss, an inability to concentrate and impaired judgment.

In 2023, a 13-year-old Australian named Esra Haynes also died after inhaling chemicals from a deodorant can, as 7News reported.

Billington’s mother set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs, which raised more than £4,000 (C$6,935).

Some contributors left comments of condolence.

“No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child,” wrote one commenter.