US Teenage Girl Attempts Trending Short-Form Challenge
'Dusting Challenge' Involves Inhaling Spray on Camera
Hallucinations, Addiction... Risks of Brain Damage and Cardiac Arrest
It has been reported that a teenage girl in the United States passed away after attempting a challenge trending on a video platform. On June 10 (local time), the New York Post reported that "Lena O'Rourke, a 19-year-old resident of Arizona, attempted the 'dusting challenge,' which has been spreading online recently. She collapsed and was taken to the hospital, but after falling into a brain-dead state, she ultimately did not recover." The cause of death was reported to be sudden sniffing death syndrome caused by inhaling spray.
The 'dusting challenge' involves inhaling various household spray cleaners through the nose or mouth. Locally, this is also referred to as 'chroming' or 'huffing.' The volatile substances in the sprays can induce hallucinations, but the practice is extremely dangerous as it can cause seizures, coma, or cardiac arrest. There is also a risk of a range of complications, including asthma, sinusitis, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Patients addicted to spray inhalants undergo cognitive behavioral therapy to learn how to relieve stress using methods other than sprays in stressful situations. Because it is difficult to treat, counseling and therapy are considered crucial.
In Lena's case, it was reported that she inhaled a spray used for cleaning keyboards. Her family said, "Lena always said things like, 'I want to be famous, watch how I become famous,'" adding, "We never imagined she would become known in this way." They also said, "Sprays can be purchased without ID, and they are inexpensive and easy to obtain. They don't have a smell, so drug tests can't detect them. They have everything kids want," and urged, "Parents should not simply trust everything their children say. Look into your child's room. You could save your child's life."
The problem is that this challenge continues to trend on social networking services (SNS). There have been multiple cases where teenagers like Lena have lost their lives. In 2023, a 13-year-old girl in Australia died after inhaling deodorant, which led to severe brain damage and a coma. An 11-year-old boy in the United Kingdom also died of cardiac arrest after inhaling toxic substances in the same way. At the annual pediatric conference held in Orlando, Florida, last year, there were also reports of serious concerns raised about videos related to this challenge.
Nevertheless, the abuse of sprays continues in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 564,000 American adolescents aged 12 to 17 used sprays in 2023.
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