Doctors warn of the risks of ‘huffing’ after pop star Aaron Carter passed out and drowned in his bathtub after sniffing an aerosol duster.
The former Nickelodeon star, 34, had difluoroethane in his system at the time of his death, his autopsy report revealed on Tuesday.
The gas is the main ingredient in many aerosol dusters and cleaners, but is sometimes abused for its ability to cause severe drowsiness.
These sensations are caused by the gas refusing oxygen to the brain, leading to brain cell death and, in some cases, permanent damage.
The autopsy for singer Aaron Carter revealed he drowned in his bathtub after consuming Xanax and snorting before his death at the age of 34. Pictured in Las Vegas in February 2022
Difluoroethane is a chemical used in aerosol keyboard cleaners. When inhaled, it can cause a person to experience an intense high and drowsiness (file photo)
Experts warn that huffing is popular among young teens looking for an easy high that uses materials readily available at home.
Misuse of equipment such as dusters has been linked to respiratory problems, nausea, vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, and nervous system depression.
Huffing produces an almost immediate effect, according to HC Drug Free, an addiction treatment center in Columbia, Maryland.
After the chemical is smoked, the gases quickly enter the lungs and into the alveoli — air sacs in the lungs responsible for carrying oxygen into the bloodstream.
These chemicals then enter the bloodstream and reach the brain, where they produce a “high” that can last up to 45 minutes.
It is unclear whether Mr Carter got the chemical into his system in this way.
A 2020 report by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston warned, “Inhalation abuse, also known as snorting, is common among teens and adolescents in the United States and worldwide.
“Inhaled aerosols are dangerous because of both the volatile hydrocarbons that cause direct organ damage and the risk that the compressed air can cause physical trauma.”
Other possible harms include suffocation or suffocation as oxygen is displaced in the lungs, seizures caused by abnormal brain activity, or going into a coma.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) also warns that some users could experience deadly heart complications after just the first snort.
“This syndrome, known as ‘sudden death by inhalation,’ can be caused by a single inhalation session in an otherwise healthy young person,” the agency warns.
“Sudden death by sniff is particularly associated with abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols.”
Other things that annoy people are gas canisters, glue, paint, gasoline, felt-tip pens and markers, hairspray, aerosol deodorant, and cleaning supplies.
According to NIDA, an estimated 2.2 million Americans have misused inhalants. This includes up to four percent of eighth graders in the United States.
Also found in Mr. Carter’s system was the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam.
The drug, sold under the name Xanax, is a highly addictive, fast-acting drug that induces a subdued and euphoric feeling in users.
Xanax falls into a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, along with others like Klomopin, Valium, and Ativan.
Also known as “benzos,” these substances are highly addictive, and their powerful side effects have made them popular party drugs.
A person who uses the drugs every day to manage severe cases of anxiety could become dependent on them within weeks, studies suggest.
The body also builds a tolerance to the drugs, meaning that over time, frequent use will require more and more to control one’s addiction.
It is unclear whether Mr. Carter received this drug through a doctor or illegally.
Officials believe the combination of these two drugs in Mr Carter’s system caused him to pass out and drown in his tub.
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