# Smoking Smarties Bizarre Teen Fad Mimics Smoking Cigarettes By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-03-23 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smoking-smarties References: [foxnews](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509932,00.html) Smoking Smarties--the old-school [compressed powdered candy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mms-popd)--is the latest in bizarre teen behavior. These [YouTube](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/incredible-group) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outsmart-nicotine) 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **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. - **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. - **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. ### Where This Applies - **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. - **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. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Candy-Inspired School-Centric Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smarties-u.md) - [Intensely Flavored Candy Straws](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clever-candy-powder-straws.md) - [Retro-Inspired Chocolate Vapes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vapezinhos-de-chocolate.md) - [Gen Z-Targeted Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outsmart-nicotine.md) - [Mixed Fruit-Flavored Soft Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mixed-fruit-soft-candy.md) - [Nostalgic Bulk Candy Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clever-candy-powdered-candy-straws.md) - [Adult-Only Snack Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smoke-2-snack.md) - [Remixed Freeze-Dried Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ferrara-freeze-dried-candy.md) - [Fizzy Can-Packaged Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-bandit-fizzy-soda-can.md)