The family of an 11-year-old boy have attributed his death at a friend’s house to a social media craze known as “chroming”. Tommie-lee Gracie Billington died on March 2 in Lancaster after paramedics found him unresponsive.
Chroming is a slang term used to describe the practice of inhaling toxic fumes from sources such as paint, solvent and aerosol cans. Glue, cleaning products and petrol are also among the sources of toxic fumes that have been used for chroming.
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The inhalation of the fumes is said to impact on the central nervous system, slowing down brain activity and resulting in a short-term high. But slurred speech, nausea and vomiting are among the wide variety of side effects from chroming.
Hallucinations, heart attacks and suffocation can also be caused by chroming, despite a 2017 report having estimated that millions of children aged 12 to 17 had taken part in the process. The social media site TikTok is now being blamed for fuelling a rise in chroming, though the China-based platform says it has blocked any videos or searches using the term.
The relative accessibility of “chroming” is also being blamed for its rise, given that items such as spray paint bottles are easier to purchase compared to drugs and alcohol. Police have said that the death of Tommie-lee Gracie Billington is currently being treated as unexplained.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
