A 13-year-old boy from Ohio tragically lost his life after participating in a risky TikTok challenge that involved the consumption of an excessive amount of Benadryl. The boy, Jacob Stevens, died after being on a ventilator for a week, following his participation in the so-called "Benadryl Challenge" that's been making rounds online.
The dangerous challenge involves the ingestion of large quantities of the over-the-counter antihistamine, which can lead to severe heart problems, seizures, coma, and even death, according to a public warning issued by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2020.
Jacob's family is now working tirelessly to prevent other children from falling victim to this deadly trend. They have also received condolences from TikTok, who stated their commitment to prohibiting and removing content that encourages dangerous behavior. The social media platform has a team of safety professionals who work to eliminate violations of their community guidelines and block searches that may encourage harmful imitation.
Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactures Benadryl, echoed these sentiments, describing the challenge as "dangerous". They made it clear that their products should only be used as directed by the label and are actively working with social media platforms to eliminate content showcasing this harmful behavior.
The FDA has strongly urged TikTok to remove any videos promoting the challenge from their platform and to be vigilant about deleting any new videos that may be posted. Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, is safe and effective when used as recommended to treat symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose caused by allergies or the common cold. The FDA further advised consumers and parents to store Benadryl and other over-the-counter medications out of reach of children.