It is above all the propellant in the bottle that is dangerous. Inhaling propellant gases causes intoxication by affecting the nerve cells in the brain.
In several parts of the country, it has been noted that young people are locking themselves in public toilets and "huffing" dry shampoo, which means inhaling the propellant gas in the shampoo, in order to become intoxicated. The gas affects the heart, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Dry shampoo also contains a powder with particles that can cause damage to the lungs.
– This is really not something to engage in. It can lead to death in the worst case, says Erik Lindeman, chief physician at the Poison Information Center (Giftinformationscentralen).
The dangerous trend has been brought to the forefront since Monday when a girl was found dead in a school toilet in Luleå. The cause of death has not been determined, but in an interview with Expressen, the girl's parents revealed that she had tried "huffing" dry shampoo.
A few weeks ago, staff at the Solsidan recreation center at Sörböleskolan reported encountering the trend. As a result, the school's student health services sent an email to all guardians of middle school students.
The email urged parents to talk to their children about the potentially life-threatening consequences of sniffing dry shampoo.
– It's important to spread the knowledge to parents. As teachers, we may not have a good handle on the latest trends, and that's why we've also had a training day with the municipality's outreach workers, says Principal Doris Hjelm.
Doris Hjelm, principal at Sörböle School.
Holly Bitén, Seppe Ncube, and Tilda Kassman in class 9C at Sörböleskolan say that there is a lot of talk about the trend on social media. They have heard of "huffing" dry shampoo in Skellefteå, but they don't know anyone who does it.
– It's really not a cool thing to do," says Seppe Ncube.
Tilda Kassman and Holly Bitén agree, adding:
– It just feels embarrassing and weird. Especially considering that you can die from it.
HHolly Bitén, Seppe Ncube and Tilda Kassman in class 9C at Sörböleskolan think it's embarrassing to "buff" dry shampoo.
The staff at Stora Coop Anderstorp, a stone's throw away from Sörböleskolan, has recently noticed an increase in thefts of dry shampoo bottles.
– We've had to retrieve loads of stolen bottles from the police. In the future, we may move the dry shampoo behind the checkout so that customers have to ask for a bottle to buy it. We're having an ongoing discussion but waiting for instructions from our headquarters, says store manager Susanne Rindelöv.
Does it feel uncomfortable to sell this product when you know about the trend among young people and while experts say that it can lead to death if used improperly?
– Yes, of course. It doesn't feel good to sell it, Rindelöv adds.
Susanne Rindelöv, supermarket manager at Stora Coop Anderstorp, is concerned about the development.
At Stora Coop Anderstorp, it has been noticed that thefts of dry shampoo are on the rise.
The last time stores in Skellefteå had to remove an item from their inventory and place it behind the checkout was over ten years ago when young people were buying and/or stealing acetone, which was used to produce the synthetic drug Spice. Norran has been in contact with other retailers in Skellefteå, and several have mentioned that similar action may become necessary in the future.
– We'll keep an eye on it, and if we see that a lot of dry shampoo starts to disappear, we'll take action, says Andreas Tiburzi at ICA Kvantum.
What measures can a store take?
– We could set an age limit so that they can't buy it in the self-checkout lanes without a staff member verifying their age, like with energy drinks, for example," Tiburzi suggests.
Andreas Tiburzi, ICA Kvantum.
Update: 13:30
On Friday afternoon, the police and Luleå municipality held an emergency press conference concerning the issue of "sniffing" at the city's schools, where they issued a strong warning to parents.
– What we see now regarding sniffing is that there is both encouragement and incitement around this on our children's social media, says police officer Magnus Carlborg, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue with children.
– We must talk to our children about the fact that it can actually be life-threatening. As a parent, you need to address these issues, talk about them, and show that you care. Asking questions to demonstrate your knowledge and awareness of this problem is crucial.
Carlborg then discussed the risks associated with sniffing dry shampoo:
– What is particularly concerning about this type of intoxication is that it can very rapidly become life-threatening and even lead to death, warned Carlborg, a police officer in Luleå.
– As such, it is vital that parents remain vigilant and take action to protect their children from the potential dangers of this behavior.