Challenges on TikTok have once again taken a turn for the worse. The latest challenge in the social media platform took yet another teen victim upon their ingestion of a fatal dose of antihistamine pills in the so-called “Benadryl Challenge.”
Upon trying the dangerous trend in hopes to induce hallucinations – as it is being marketed – Jacob Stevens, a 13-year-old in Ohio fell into a coma, passing away after nearly a week on a ventilator. According to the original report by local media outlet ABC6, Stevens’ overdose led him to experience seizures, prior to being transported to the hospital. Stevens would never wake up after participating in the challenge, with the doctor’s prognosis affirming there was no hope left for the teen, as told by Jacob Stevens to ABC6.
“No brain scan, there was nothing there. [Doctors] said we could keep him on the vent that he could lay there but he will never open his eyes, he’ll never breathe, smile, walk or talk.”
The Benadryl Challenge encourages users to ingest 12-14 pills of the over-the-counter-drug diphenhydramine to induce hallucinations. As per manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, Benadryl’s dosage should be administered depending on the patient’s age, with the medication’s guidelines stating that generally, people should take between 1-2 tablets every four to six hours.
With thousands of users still partaking in this dangerous and deadly challenge, TikTok remains under suspicious light for not taking immediate measures against malicious trends that may result in endangering the lives of others, despite a TikTok spokesperson affirming there are preventative measures being taken to avoid the spreading of this trend.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family. At TikTok, we strictly prohibit and remove content that promotes dangerous behavior with the safety of our community as a priority. We have never seen this type of content trend on our platform and have blocked searches for years to help discourage copycat behavior.Our team of 40,000 safety professionals works to remove violations of our Community Guidelines and we encourage our community to report any content or accounts they’re concerned about.”
This is not the first time someone has fallen ill at the hands of a TikTok challenge. Just last month, a trend involving the ingestion of jugs filled with a mixture made up of alcohol, water, and electrolytes went viral, resulting in several college students being sent to the hospital. Similarly, in January, a new trend involving choking also arose in internet circles, leading users to faint and pass out from lack of oxygen.