Paul and Andrea Haynes never imagined they would lose their 13-year-old daughter, Esra, to a dangerous trend called chroming. But in March 2023, their lives were forever changed when Esra inhaled chemicals from a deodorant can at a friend’s sleepover and suffered a cardiac arrest. Now, they’re sharing their story to warn others about the deadly risks of this trend.
Chroming, which involves inhaling chemicals from aerosol cans to achieve a quick high, is especially popular among teenagers. Many, like Esra, don’t fully understand the immediate and severe dangers. After being rushed to the hospital, Esra was placed on life support, but her brain had suffered irreversible damage. Eight days later, her parents made the devastating decision to let her go.
Paul and Andrea are now calling for change. They want aerosol manufacturers to reconsider their product formulations and social media platforms to take greater responsibility for monitoring harmful trends. “For me, it’s like a pistol sitting on the shelf,” Paul said. “Manufacturers need to make changes to prevent this from happening.”
The Haynes family also hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of chroming. “Kids don’t look beyond the next day,” Paul explained. “They don’t understand the consequences. If Esra had known, she never would have done it.”
Their story is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of open conversations between parents and children. “We’ve got no child to bring home,” Andrea said. “Her name meant ‘helper,’ and that’s what we’re here to do—help others.”
