what is dusting

2 weeks ago 14
Nature

Dusting refers to a dangerous form of inhalant abuse where people, often teenagers and young adults, inhale computer keyboard dusting spray to get high. The aerosol products used, such as keyboard cleaners and dust removers, contain chemicals like difluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane, which are not meant to be inhaled and can cause hallucinations, dizziness, euphoria, and potentially fatal side effects. This practice involves either spraying the aerosol directly into the mouth and nose or inhaling through a straw, producing a short but intense euphoric high. It is popular among teenagers because these products are legal, inexpensive, and widely accessible. However, dusting is highly dangerous and can lead to sudden sniffing death syndrome, a fatal cardiac arrhythmia triggered by inhalant abuse. There have been multiple deaths linked to dusting, including young people and celebrities. Despite its accessibility and the misconception that it is a safer high compared to other drugs, dusting poses severe health risks including unconsciousness, seizures, breathing problems, loss of motor control, and death. The name "dusting" comes from the fact that these sprays are intended to remove dust from keyboards, but abusing them as inhalants is lethal.

In other contexts, "dusting" can simply mean the act of removing dust from surfaces, but the term in modern usage often refers to this hazardous trend of inhalant abuse.