‘Dusting’ Is a Dangerous New Trend Among Teens

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by YahooNews.

Recently, a Tempe, Arizona teenager, Renna Kay O’Rourke, engaged in a dangerous trend known as dusting—or inhaling chemicals from an aerosol duster or keyboard cleaner. This decision tragically ended her life, and her parents hope this terrible accident serves as a wake-up call for other families.

According to Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, an addiction medicine specialist and chief medical officer at Rehab.com, dusting is a slang term for getting high by inhaling household dusting spray products. She says it’s a form of inhalant abuse, or breathing in the gases or vapors of chemicals.

“This type of getting high isn’t new—just the term ‘dusting’ is somewhat new and is getting used more,” says Dr. Stacy. “Inhaling household products that can cause a quick high is [a] common way for teens to explore substance use because the products are easy to obtain. Many of them are already in teens’ homes.”

She says things like whipped cream canisters, adhesives, paint thinners, spray paint, and keyboard dusters all may be used by teens for dusting (also known as huffing and chroming).

“Thankfully, inhalant abuse is not common,” she says. “Very few teens actually do it. [In fact,] less than 2% of teens report using inhalants in the last year based on 2022 data. About 30% of high school seniors have used marijuana in the past year, and 27% who vaped nicotine.”

Teenagers learn how to dust through social media, peer conversations, or even YouTube and TikTok videos that understate or exaggerate it, says Brooks Lape, co-founder of Start Your Recovery. “The use of drugs, including dusting, is greater than parents know among middle school and high school students because the products are affordable and easily accessible.”

The most concerning risk of using inhalants is death and overdose, says Dr. Stacy. Accidents or injuries while under the influence of them can also occur.

“At the time of use, [inhalants] can depress your nervous system, cause breathing problems, and be toxic to the heart,” she says. “Longer-term use can cause lasting damage to the brain, lungs, and other organ systems.”

Source: YahooNews
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dusting-dangerous-trend-among-teens-184134576.html