Chroming is the inhalation of aerosol paint and other chemical products in an attempt to get high. In previous years, people often referred to this as “huffing.” “They’re trying to huff the hydrocarbons that are mixed in those metallic paints,” Dr. Pizon says. “And because they’re kind of metallic and shiny, they sort of have that chrome-like shiny appearance.” Hydrocarbons are present in many different household products, including aerosol paint, paint thinner, motor fuel, and glue. Inhaling them can create a high, which causes many people to use them as a drug of abuse. People may inhale the chemicals in different ways — breathing in the fumes directly or using something like a bag or rag. “Usually, the specific hydrocarbon that people are seeking in metallic paints is something called toluene,” Dr. Pizon says. “Toluene is inebriating. It gives you kind of that drunken feeling. The harm can be depending on how they go about huffing it.” Dr. Pizon says many adolescents and teens may not realize the problems of chroming. They’re familiar with many of the products that contain hydrocarbons and may not see them as dangerous. For example, they may use spray paint on art projects. “It’s easily accessible, and it seems innocuous,” he says. But like drug use, chroming can cause dangerous effects on your health, both in the short term and long term. It can even prove fatal.