Smoking Smarties--the old-school compressed powdered candy--is the latest in bizarre teen behavior. These YouTube videos show teens demonstrating how to crush up the Smarties before inhaling them into the mouth and nose and exhaling. The effect looks just like smoking a cigarette; incidentally, it also holds many of the same health risks.
According to Fox News, some kids who smoke Smarties report early signs of a smoker's cough. Fox News quotes Oren Friedman, a Mayo Clinic nose specialist, who says that smoking Smarties can lead to infections and rare conditions, like maggots feeding on the sugary candy residue inside the nose.
I've included two teen-submitted videos on smoking Smarties. Creepy.
Smoking Smarties
Bizarre Teen Fad Mimics Smoking Cigarettes
Trend Themes
1. Healthy Alternatives to Smoking Smarties - Innovative health food companies can create unique healthy options that mimic the fun sensory experience of inhaling or exhaling Smarties.
2. Increased Education on Health Risks of Smoking Smarties - Healthcare specialists and educators can address the health risks of consuming sugary candies through educational campaigns that target teenagers on social media platforms.
3. Banning the Smoking Smarties Trend - States and federal agencies can ban the sale of Smarties or other candies popularly used for inhalation to prevent teenagers from using them to mimic smoking behavior.
Industry Implications
1. Health Food Industry - This industry can develop healthy inhalable products that provide the same fun sensory experience as inhaling or exhaling Smarties or other candies.
2. Healthcare Industry - The healthcare industry can offer educational resources and programs that educate teenagers on the health risks of inhaling Smarties and other sugary candies.
3. Retail Industry - Retail businesses can support anti-smartie inhalation trends by removing Smarties and other similar candies from their shelves and distributing educational materials and alternatives to Smarties.