A 13-year-old dies after participating in a Benadryl TikTok 'challenge'

A 13-year-old Ohio boy has tragically lost his life after participating in a perilous online TikTok challenge, which allegedly involved the consumption of an excessive amount of the over-the-counter antihistamine, Benadryl. This distressing news has been confirmed by a CNN affiliate and a GoFundMe account set up by the child’s grieving family.

The TikTok ‘challenge’, which has been circulating online, reportedly encourages participants to ingest large doses of Benadryl, or diphenhydramine, to experience hallucinations. The dangerous trend has already sparked concern among health professionals and parents, who warn about its severe health risks, including potentially fatal overdoses.

The teenager’s family announced his death on a GoFundMe page, where they also shared their grief and shock over the tragic incident. They expressed their hope that their son’s untimely death could serve as a stark warning to other young people and their parents about the dangers of participating in such hazardous online challenges.

“Through our deep pain and grief, we hope to bring awareness to the dangers of these online ‘challenges’ and urge parents to keep an open dialogue with their children about what they are viewing and participating in on social media,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page.

The boy’s death follows several similar incidents across the U.S, where teens have been hospitalized after participating in the same TikTok challenge. In May, three teenagers from Texas were admitted to a local hospital after consuming excessive amounts of Benadryl, triggering heart problems, seizures, and in one case, requiring intensive care.

While Benadryl is a commonly used drug for treating allergies, colds, and insomnia, it can be extremely dangerous if taken in large quantities. Overdose can lead to severe side effects such as extreme drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, dry mouth, hallucinations, fever, and in severe cases, seizures, heart problems, and death.

TikTok has been criticized for its failure to curtail the spread of such dangerous challenges on its platform. Despite their stated policy of prohibiting content that encourages or replicates dangerous challenges, such videos continue to circulate, attracting millions of views and likes from its predominantly young user base.

In response to the tragedy, a TikTok spokesperson said, “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the young man. We do not allow content that encourages, promotes, or glorifies dangerous challenges that might lead to injury, and we remove reported behavior or activity that violates our guidelines.”

Medical professionals are also warning of the dangers of the Benadryl challenge. “This is a dangerous, potentially deadly game. Overdosing on Benadryl can cause seizures and serious heart problems,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center. She added that these online challenges should be cause for concern for all parents and caregivers.

The incident has triggered a fresh wave of discussions about the responsibility of social media platforms to monitor their content and protect their young users from such dangerous activities. It also underscores the critical role of parents in monitoring their children’s online activities and educating them about the potential dangers associated with online challenges.

Meanwhile, the grieving family is hoping to turn their personal tragedy into a public warning. “We hope no other family has to experience the loss of a child in such an avoidable way. Parents, please talk to your kids about the dangers they face on social media. Children should understand that their life is a precious gift and must not be gambled with for a momentary thrill,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page.

As the boy’s family mourns their loss, they also hope that his tragic death may serve as a wake-up call for society, leading to more stringent controls and awareness about the potential dangers lurking on social media platforms.