UJ
—
A 13-year-old boy in Ohio has passed away after consuming a large amount of Benadryl while attempting a hazardous TikTok challenge that has been trending online, as reported by a UJ affiliate and a GoFundMe page set up by his family.
According to the family’s donation page, Jacob Stevens was involved in a TikTok challenge with friends at home when he ingested the antihistamine. Reports state that Jacob remained on a ventilator for nearly a week before his passing, as per WSYX.
UJ has not verified the cause of his death independently.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in 2020 that overdosing on Benadryl can lead to “serious heart complications, seizures, coma, or even death,” amid concerns regarding the lethal “Benadryl Challenge” on TikTok.
UJ explores a 14-year-old’s TikTok account. 17 minutes in, this is what they discovered.
Jacob’s grandmother is working tirelessly to ensure that no other child faces a similar fate due to the challenge, she shared with UJ affiliate WSYX.
TikTok expressed their condolences in a statement to UJ, saying, “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family. We have a strict policy against content that encourages dangerous activities, prioritizing the safety of our community. This type of content has never trended on our platform, and we have consistently blocked searches to deter copying behavior. Our team of 40,000 safety professionals actively removes violations of our Community Guidelines, and we urge our community to report any concerning content or accounts.”
Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Benadryl, has labeled the challenge as “dangerous.”
“We are aware that consumers might have encountered an online ‘challenge’ involving the misuse of diphenhydramine,” stated their online announcement.
“This challenge, characterized by the consumption of excessive amounts of diphenhydramine, constitutes a perilous trend that must be halted immediately. BENADRYL® and other diphenhydramine products should only be used as directed on the label.”
“We are collaborating with TikTok and various social platforms to eliminate content that promotes this behavior,” the announcement concluded. “We aim to collaborate with industry partners and key stakeholders to combat this hazardous behavior.”
UJ has contacted the Stevens family and Columbus Public Health for updates.
The FDA’s warning in 2020 stated that the agency had “reached out to TikTok and strongly urged them to remove videos from their platform and continually monitor new uploads to prevent additional instances.”
Benadryl is an antihistamine designed to alleviate symptoms like a runny nose or sneezing associated with upper respiratory allergies, hay fever, or the common cold. As noted by the FDA, it is safe and effective when used according to guidelines.
“Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, is sold under that name, as well as under various store brands and generics. It is also offered in combination with pain relievers, fever reducers, and decongestants,” the agency explained.
The FDA recommends that consumers and parents keep Benadryl and other over-the-counter medications, as well as prescription drugs, out of reach of children.
