• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

A 19-year-old girl in the US passed away on Sunday after trying a dangerous social media trend called "dusting." Renna O'Rourke from Arizona died after spending four days in the intensive care unit (ICU), reported The Independent. Her parents said she and her boyfriend secretly bought aerosol keyboard cleaner. After inhaling it, Renna had a cardiac arrest, was unconscious for a week in the ICU, and was later declared brain dead.

Her dad, Aaron O'Rourke, shared with the outlet, "She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad. Just you watch. I'm going to be famous,' but sadly, this isn’t how we wanted it to happen."

What is Dusting?

"Dusting," also known as "chroming" or "huffing," is a popular online trend where people inhale household cleaners to feel high and get attention. It can cause a short burst of happiness but often leads to sudden death, usually from heart failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

A GoFundMe page said Renna was declared brain dead after breathing in the cleaning spray on purpose. Her mom, Dana O'Rourke, told People, "There’s no ID needed, it’s odorless, and it’s cheap and easy for kids to get. It doesn’t show up on a parent’s drug test." She added, "She never woke up."

ALSO READ: Who Is Thomas Fugate? Trump’s 22-Year-Old Appointee To Head Homeland Security | From Star Wars Fan To DHS Leader

Cheerful girl, Dad remembers his late daughter

Renna’s parents described her as lively, kind, and loyal. Her dad said she loved singing and brought joy to every room with her smile and laugh. Now, the O'Rourke family wants to honour Renna by warning teens and parents about the risks of huffing. Her mom said, "Check their rooms carefully. Don’t trust them, it sounds bad, but it might save their life." They also set up a GoFundMe to pay for medical bills, funeral costs, and therapy. Her dad plans to use some of the money to raise awareness about the dangers of huffing or dusting with keyboard cleaner.

ALSO READ: US Pride Parade 2025: Full Route, Time & Traffic Advisory | Here’s All About Massive Queer Parade

This trend isn’t new. In March 2024, an 11-year-old boy in the UK died after copying social media videos of people sniffing toxic substances. Data from CNN shows more teens are trying this risky trend. The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that from 2015 to 2022, the number of 12- to 17-year-olds using inhalants dropped from 684,000 in 2015 to 554,000 in 2022.