A 13-year-old boy in Ohio has died after ingesting excessive amounts of Benadryl while taking part in a social media trend circulating online, according to his family and local media reports. Jacob Stevens was participating in a TikTok challenge alongside friends at home when he consumed the over-the-counter medication, a family fundraiser account stated. Following the incident, Jacob was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator for nearly a week before succumbing to the medical complications.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jacob's grandmother expressed her determination to take action "to make sure another child doesn't go through" the dangerous online stunt. The United States Food and Drug Administration had previously issued a public advisory regarding the risks associated with the so-called "Benadryl Challenge" on social media. According to the federal agency's 2020 warning, taking higher than recommended doses of the drug can lead to severe health consequences, including "serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death." During that initial alert, regulatory officials noted they had contacted TikTok directly to urge the prompt removal of all related video clips and requested ongoing vigilance against new posts.
Addressing the teenager's death, TikTok extended its sympathies, stating, "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." The platform added that it has never seen this specific activity trend broadly across its service and has maintained search blocks for years to prevent copycat behavior. The company noted that a team of 40,000 safety professionals continually works to enforce its Community Guidelines, while encouraging users to report any concerning accounts or content.
Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Benadryl, explicitly condemned the online challenge, describing it as dangerous. In an online statement, the company acknowledged that consumers may have heard about social media activities involving the abuse or misuse of diphenhydramine. "The challenge, which involves ingestion of excessive quantities of diphenhydramine, is a dangerous trend and should be stopped immediately. BENADRYL® products and other diphenhydramine products should only be used as directed by the label," the drugmaker stated. Johnson & Johnson further confirmed that it is actively collaborating with social platforms, including TikTok, to remove content depicting such behavior while seeking broader industry partnerships to address dangerous drug misuse.
Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, is widely marketed under brand names, store brands, and generic formulations, as well as in combination products containing pain relievers, fever reducers, and decongestants. The FDA emphasizes that when taken as directed on the product label, the antihistamine remains safe and effective for treating upper respiratory allergies, hay fever, and common cold symptoms like sneezing or a runny nose. However, to prevent accidental poisoning or deliberate misuse, health authorities strongly advise parents and consumers to store all over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs safely out of children's reach. Requests for comment were also sent to the Stevens family and local health officials at Columbus Public Health.
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