Teens Are 'Dusting' – And It's Not What You Think It Means
Some teens are taking part in a viral challenge called ‘dusting’, which can have deadly consequences.
Last week it was reported a 19-year-old had passed away after inhaling a cleaning product. Reports suggest she was participating in the so-called dusting trend.
After the death of Renna O’Rourke, from Arizona, her parents have been raising awareness of the trend. They said their daughter had used an app to have the cleaning product – keyboard cleaner – delivered to their home.
Her mum Dana O’Rourke told AZ Family: “There’s no ID required. It’s odourless. It’s everything kids look for.”
She added: “We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can.”
The parent said her daughter will be “unbelievably missed” and added “if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else’s child from being where ours is right now”.
What is dusting?
Dusting is a form of inhalant abuse. According to Addiction Center, teens and young adults inhale computer keyboard cleaner or dusting spray to get high.
These products contain chemicals like difluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane, “which are not intended for human consumption”, said the site.
“When inhaled, these chemicals quickly produce side effects like hallucinations, dizziness, and euphoria.”
The issue with dusting – or huffing, as it’s sometimes known – is that the products are easy to obtain and legal. They’re also pretty cheap to buy.
But the bottom line is: it’s not safe. Dusting can cause heart failure, brain damage and even liver and kidney damage.
Teens have long engaged with trends that are dangerous, from the ‘paracetamol challenge’, which saw children hospitalised after overdosing on the drug, to the Blackout Challenge, which was linked to 20 deaths in 2022.
A lot of the challenges on social media platforms are relatively harmless and, in some cases, good fun. But as some trends are dangerous or harmful, it’s crucial that parents keep the lines of communication open with their kids and proactively talk to them about what they’re seeing online.
While ‘dusting’ isn’t a new trend (inhalation abuse has been happening for years), Brooks Lape, co-founder of Start Your Recovery, told Parents that teens are learning how to do it through social media and conversations with mates.
Many social media sites require teens to be over 13 to sign up. If your child is on social media, Action for Children recommends talking about trends that come up in the news. “Ask your child if they’ve heard about it and what they think of it. Allow them to share their opinions without judging them,” the charity advises.
You can also teach them how to report content that is against the rules and to let them know you’re always available to chat if they see anything that’s worrying or upsetting – and that they won’t get into trouble if they do come to you.
Parents might also want to monitor their child’s social media use (for example, by setting limits on how often and when they use it), as well as talking to their child’s school if they’re worried that their peers are taking part in these trends.
If you suspect or know your child has engaged in a risky challenge, Fiona Yassin, founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic,previously told HuffPost UK caregivers should avoid acting erratically or impulsively (for instance, taking their phone away or turning the WiFi off).
Instead, she recommended educating them on the risks: “Stick to the facts and explain the harm ... Ensure that the information you provide to your child is medically sound and use reputable sources to gather the information. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, for example, has a range of great resources available for parents and carers.”
She added that if you think your child may be involved in, or is at risk of getting involved in a challenge, it might help to reach out to your GP and ask a medical professional to outline the risks to them.
She also urged parents who suspect their young person is becoming consumed by the pressures of social media, has a mental health disorder or is suicidal, to seek professional medical help immediately.
Help and support:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
- CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.