Hazardous Substances
Chroming (Aerosol Paint Huffing)
Street names: Chroming, Paint huffing, Spray huffing, Volatile substance misuse
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Seconds-long dizzy euphoria
- Disinhibition, giggling
⚠Key risks
- Sudden sniffing death syndrome — heart stops with no warning, even the first time
- Toluene damages the brain, kidneys and hearing with repeated use
- Teen deaths keep making headlines in Australia
✚Overdose signs
- Collapse mid-use
- Seizures
- Blue lips, irregular heartbeat
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chroming (Aerosol Paint Huffing) | Legal products — dangerous misuse | Sudden sniffing death syndrome — heart stops with no warning, even the first time; Toluene damages the brain, kidneys and hearing with repeated use | ~$5–$10 per can |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Chroming (Aerosol Paint Huffing) look like?
Metallic/chrome spray-paint cans inhaled through a cloth or bag — the term is big in Australia but the practice is global
What are the signs of a Chroming (Aerosol Paint Huffing) overdose?
Collapse mid-use; Seizures; Blue lips, irregular heartbeat Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Sudden sniffing death syndrome — heart stops with no warning, even the first time Dependence can develop with regular use.