The Smoking Smarties Trend Explained

Are people literally smoking Smarties? Your questions, answered

Co-authored by Julia Eze, NP-C and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: November 6, 2025 Fact Checked

Smoking Smarties Meaning

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Is it real?

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Dangers

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Effects

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Origin

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Final Thoughts

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Video

You might’ve seen some headlines or TikToks floating around claiming young people are smoking Smarties candies. But what’s really going on here? Is it actual drug use, or just a fad that’s been blown out of proportion? We’re here to catch you up to speed. We’ll explain what “smoking Smarties” is, whether or not it's dangerous, and where this whole thing started.

Are kids really smoking Smarties candy?

“Smoking Smarties” is a party trick where someone crushes a pack of Smarties candy into powder, inhales it gently, and exhales it out through their nose or mouth to make it look like they’re smoking a cigarette. This doesn’t get you high, but the trick can damage your respiratory system and shouldn’t be attempted.

Section 1 of 6:

What is “smoking Smarties”?

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“Smoking Smarties” is a party trick that resembles smoking. When people say “smoking Smarties,” they’re most likely referring to a clever (but dangerous) party trick. To do it, they crush up the Smarties in their wrapper, inhale the dust through their mouth, then exhale it through their mouth or nose to make it look like they’ve just taken a drag off a cigarette.^{[1]
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- The trend is nothing new, but it’s recently sparked up again (pun intended) on places like YouTube and TikTok, with users sharing their “techniques” or showing off. This TikTok video illustrates the recent trend and what it entails.
- “Smoking” smarties doesn’t get you high in any way.
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Some are concerned that people are literally smoking candy. Reportedly, teens and other young people may be crushing Smarties candies, rolling them in wrappers or paper, and sparking up like a cigarette.^{[2]
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Research source} Or, that’s what the news stories say, at least, but that’s probably not what’s actually happening. More on the reality of the situation below.
- Relatedly, young people are also reportedly snorting Smarting candies like a nasal drug, which is an equally bad idea for reasons we’ll also talk about.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 6:

Are people actually smoking Smarties?

No, people aren’t literally smoking Smarties. From where we stand, it seems there’s been a miscommunication, with kids doing the party trick and their guardians or teachers misinterpreting what they actually mean by “smoking Smarties.” Parents and teachers confuse this for drug use when it’s actually just a stunt (though still dangerous). This idea makes more sense given the fact that, when you Google “smoking Smarties,” results are riddled with examples of the party trick, rather than people literally sparking up a pack of Smarties.
- As for the drug concern, we’ve seen weird drug panics before, from hand sanitizer fumes to Sharpies, as well as similar stories about snorting Pixie Stix and Fun Dip.
- We’re not saying people aren’t out there literally snorting or smoking Smarties. It’s probably true that some people have tried it, and they definitely shouldn’t have. But for the most part, this is just a silly party trick; there’s no need for a national panic or widespread concern.^{[4]
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Section 3 of 6:

Is smoking Smarties dangerous?

Inhaling Smarties dust can lead to respiratory problems. Inhaling any sort of smoke, fumes, or particles can lead to choking, wheezing, respiratory damage, infection, or even internal bleeding, so suffice to say you should never smoke or snort Smarties, let alone a cigarette or vape.^{[5]
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- Some sources claim smoking Smarties leads to nasal maggots that feed off the sugar in your nose. This is likely a tall tale told to discourage kids from hurting themselves, and there’s no evidence of nasal maggots (but it is pretty funny–and kinda gross–to think about).^{[6]
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Section 4 of 6:

Can smoking Smarties get you high?

No, there are no mind-altering effects of smoking or snorting Smarties. Here’s the real kicker: “smoking” or snorting Smarties doesn’t actually do anything. It doesn’t lead to a high, and if it gives you any sort of rush, it has more to do with adrenaline from ingesting something you shouldn’t.^{[7]
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- That’s why it’s more of a false alarm or misunderstood party trick than an actual drug problem. There’s nothing addictive or pleasant about it, and young people are likely only doing it to entertain their peers, if anything.

Section 5 of 6:

Where did smoking Smarties start?

Here’s a local article out of Aspen, Colorado, discussing the topic in 2009, and similar articles from other school districts and major news outlets pepper the internet around the same time. So it’s nothing new and, if anything, it’s a cyclical trend of kids being kids and doing silly things they’re not supposed to.^{[8]
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Section 6 of 6:

Final Thoughts

“Smoking Smarties” is an older trend that resembles smoking cigarettes. To do it, people crush up Smarties candies, inhale them, then breathe them out through their nose. People probably aren’t actually smoking Smarties like a cigarette, contrary to some media claims. Still, both activities can be harmful to your respiratory system, and experts recommend against them.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Julia Eze, NP-C
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Interview}
- The trend likely started in 2009 and has stuck around since then, though Smarties do not have psychoactive effects and won’t get you high.