Woman Shares Her Harrowing Experience with 'Chroming' to Raise Awareness

Katie Schroeder, at the age of 24, began a perilous journey into inhaling toxic fumes from everyday cleaning products, commonly referred to as 'chroming'. This habit, which used to be known as 'huffing', has gained notoriety on social media and has been connected to numerous fatalities. Despite its dangers, Katie was able to hide her dependency from her friends and family since the products she purchased appeared harmless. She spent around £150 or $200 each month, ultimately consuming up to three cans of cleaning spray daily.

The hazards of her habit quickly became apparent when she fainted, causing an aerosol can to discharge onto her face, resulting in horrifying injuries. Disturbing images reveal her visage swollen and blistered, necessitating hospitalization for several days. Even after this traumatic incident, Katie continued to deceive her loved ones about her addiction, claiming she suffered a "cleaning accident". Unfortunately, she faced further injuries, including breaking her eye socket while huffing. After two years of struggling with her addiction, Katie, now 42, managed to break free, although the sounds and scents of air dusters still trigger her old urges.

Katie recalls her first experience with inhaling, which she initially found exhilarating. She enjoyed the light-headedness and euphoria it provided, but it quickly turned into a hazardous routine as she consistently bought multiple cans weekly. The repercussions culminated in a hospital visit after severe burns and blisters developed on her face. For months, she suffered from the physical aftermath of her decisions, yet her addiction persisted. In her later years, while working in an office, even the sound of an air duster caused her to experience panic, illustrating how deeply her addiction had impacted her life.

Despite being free of huffing for 16 years, Katie avoids keeping air dusters at home to prevent any possibility of relapse, drawing parallels to the choices of an alcoholic. She has fought urges to revert to her former habits but remains vigilant about her triggers. Her mission now is to emphasize the serious dangers associated with inhaling fumes, especially as awareness of 'chroming' continues to grow on social media. Katie strongly believes the issue needs more attention, as many view it as a trivial activity. She warns that inhaling these products carries grave risks, including the potential for brain damage, and underscores the urgency for society to recognize the potential harm that can result from what may seem like harmless fun.