In early 2021, a 16 year old girl was found by Queensland Police in bushland, unresponsive after directly inhaling toxic chemicals from several deodorant cans. She now suffers a permanent brain injury. This injury was the result of “chroming,” otherwise known as “sniffing”, or “huffing”, or what researchers refer to as Volatile Substance Misuse. 

This act of inhaling certain products is something that is experimented with by kids as young as 10 years old. The products used are cheap, easily accessible and on the shelves of our local stores. And the kicker - it’s not illegal. It has left many with irreversible brain damage, and for some truly unlucky ones it has resulted in death from their first inhale.

What drives young people to inhale potentially lethal substances? What are law enforcement and governments doing to combat the issue? And what is the most effective way to educate parents, teachers,and young people? 

Throughout this series, we examine inhalants and how the misuse of them has led to severe consequences by talking to the people dealing with the repercussions of it. We also ask questions about the manufacture and distribution of the products used in these cases, and the role of those making - and profiting - from them. 

Coming soon from Swivol Media. Hosted by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a June evening in 2021, Sara Nevins is awoken by a knock at the door. It’s the police. They’ve come to tell her that her 16 year old daughter, Chloe, is in the intensive care unit.

Chloe was found in bushland in the Logan area of Queensland, Australia, unresponsive after directly inhaling toxic chemicals from several deodorant cans. She was engaging in a cyclic trend known as “chroming”, one of many names for volatile substance misuse, a surprisingly common form of drug use that flies under the radar for most parents. 

Chloe now suffers a permanent brain injury and is in need of 24 hour care.

With the help of Sara and experts in the field, we start to unpack how an everyday product like deodorant caused such catastrophic injuries, and discover a range of products that are being misused to achieve momentary “highs” - and a creeping social issue linked to retail theft, injury - and even death. 

Fumes is an original investigative series from Swivol Media exploring the issue of volatile substance misuse. Hosted Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace. Produced by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace and Lauren Fitzgerald, Sound Design and Mix by Rob Clarke, additional production and design from Amanda Reedy, Kendra Christiansz, and Allison Craighead. Executive Producer Scotty Allen. 

Please visit www.swivolmedia.com for more information. You can also join the “Fumes - The Truth About Inhalants” Group on Facebook (coming soon)

If you’re concerned that someone you know may be misusing inhalants, you can call the National and Other Drugs Hotline in Australia on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicholas Douglas died in Mackay, Queensland at age 17 from "chroming" deodorant. His mother Dianne had no idea of his chronic inhalant misuse until after his funeral, when she found multiple empty aerosol cans - including deodorant, fly spray, and insect bombs, in his room while cleaning up after his passing. 

How does a parent deal with the sudden loss of a child in circumstances like these? For Dianne, it’s about finding answers - and making sure other parents know what she didn’t.

But what answers are there to be found? Why inhalants kill some and not others when deliberately inhaled via “chroming” is still not well understood by professionals in the field. We speak to an addiction physician to learn what we can about the impact of inhalant misuse on the body and the signs of inhalant misuse to look out for.

Fumes is an original investigative series from Swivol Media exploring the issue of volatile substance misuse. Hosted Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace. Produced by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace and Lauren Fitzgerald, Sound Design and Mix by Rob Clarke, additional production and design from Amanda Reedy, Kendra Christiansz, and Allison Craighead. Executive Producer Scotty Allen. 

Please visit www.swivolmedia.com for more information. You can also join the “Fumes - The Truth About Inhalants” Group on Facebook (coming soon)

If you’re concerned that someone you know may be misusing inhalants, you can call the National and Other Drugs Hotline in Australia on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.