Digital ‘High-Ways’: TikTok Benadryl challenge leaves 13-yr-old dead in US
The Community News/New York
Jacob Stevens was just chilling with buddies at his Coumbus home last weekend when the idea of trying digital world’s trend of getting high, TikTok Benadryl challenge cropped up.
TikTok Benadryl challenge that reportedly gained currency in 2022 after it reportedly got started on the popular social media platform in 2020.
TikTok Benadryl challenge consists of teenagers taking 12 to 14 pills of anti-allergy medicine to induce hallucinating effects in order to gain social media clout.
Jacob, a 13-year-old teenager from Columbus in Ohio state of US, was also recorded on camera by his buddies while consuming the pills.
It is necessary to prove veracity of taking the dose of 12 to 14 Benadryl pills to enter the challenge.
But the dose proved lethal for 13-year-old Jacob who started having seizures minutes after consuming the pills.
He was rushed to hospital where he died six days later as all his brain functions had ceased.
Justin, the teen’s father, is now appealing to the US government to stop challenges on social media platforms and that there should be a minimum age group for joining these.
Justin recalled the worst day of his life while talking to the media as he and his family had to make a heart-wrenching decision to let Jacob go as his brain had ceased functioning.
Justin shared this message for other parents and posted this on Facebook.
“This is my 13 year old son who is fighting to stay alive.This is due to the TikTok benadryl challenge. He and a couple of his friends thought it would be Kool to do this challenge and this is the outcome of it.
It will take an act from God to bring him out of this. So folks if you have children or loved ones please share this picture with them in hopes that it will keep them from making this big mistake. Keep fighting bubba I love you.”
Justin and other parents are also calling for age restriction for buying such drugs as hospitalization continues to rise in the US and Australia.
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