What Is Benadryl Challenge? Ohio Teenager Dies Of Overdose After Participating In Viral Challenge

A 13-year-old teenager from Ohio, United States tragically lost his life after ingesting an excessive amount of over-the-counter medication in an attempt to participate in a popular TikTok trend, known as the “Benadryl Challenge.”

The trend urges participants to consume high doses of the antihistamine to cause hallucinations. The parents of the teenager are cautioning other parents about the perilous social media craze.

What is the TikTok Benadryl challenge?

Participants in this challenge take as many as 14 Benadryl pills, a type of allergy medication with antihistamine properties, in order to experience hallucinations, and then they upload videos of their experience on various social media platforms.

Jacob Stevens, a resident of Ohio, experienced muscle stiffness as a result of consuming a fatal quantity of a substance.

He was promptly taken to the hospital when his body started to shut down.

Sadly, despite being kept on life support for six days, his family ultimately had to make the difficult decision to let him go, as his brain activity had completely stopped.

Justin Stevens, Jacob's father, is now committed to informing parents and teens about the hazards of social media. He has shared a picture of Jacob, who was on life support at the hospital, to raise awareness of the issue.

He also mentioned that Jacob overdosed while at home with friends. He claims Jacobs' friends filmed him doing the social media challenge when his body began to seize up.

The grieving father said that the brain scan showed no activity. The medical professionals suggested keeping him on a ventilator, but he was unlikely to regain consciousness or perform normal bodily functions such as breathing, walking, and talking.

Jacob's grandmother expressed her determination to do everything within her power to prevent another child from experiencing the same situation.

The family fondly recalls the boy as a polite, humorous, and affectionate child.

"Regardless of how terrible my day was, nobody else could bring a smile to my face, but Jacob could," remembered Justin Stevens.

Jacob's family is now lobbying lawmakers to impose age restrictions on the purchase of medication, such as Benadryl.

Suggested reading: 5 Dangerous TikTok Trends You Are Better Off Without Trying