Viral ‘Dusting’ Trend Claims Life of 19-Year-Old in the US

A 19-year-old girl in the United States has died as a result of participating in the ‘dusting’ trend, a dangerous social media challenge. Renna O’Rourke, from Arizona, suffered cardiac arrest after inhaling an aerosol keyboard cleaner. Her father reported that her boyfriend had ordered the cleaner without the family’s awareness. She was subsequently admitted to the ICU and later declared brain dead. The ‘dusting’ trend, also known as ‘huffing’ or ‘chroming,’ encourages individuals to inhale household cleaners to get high. Medical professionals warn of the risk of heart failure associated with this practice. Renna’s mother has expressed concern over the easy accessibility of these cleaners and the tendency of children to seek them out. The family is now focused on spreading awareness about the potentially deadly consequences of ‘dusting,’ encouraging parents to actively monitor their children. To help with medical expenses and therapy, the family has launched a GoFundMe page. This case echoes another recent fatality in the UK, where a boy died from inhaling toxic substances in March 2024.