‘Benadryl Challenge’ takes the life of 13-year-old Ohio boy

GREENFIELD — A 13-year-old Ohio boy is dead after attempting a TikTok challenge and overdosing on a common over-the-counter antihistamine.

Jacob Stevens, Greenfield, died April 12 at Nationwide Children’s Hospital after attempting the “Benadryl Challenge.” The challenge encourages someone to take 12-14 pills at once to induce hallucinations.

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A friend of Stevens filmed him participating in the challenge; once ingesting the medication, Stevens began seizing.

Doctors placed Stevens on a ventilator and told his parents their son would never wake up, according to ABC6, a CNN affiliate reported/

“No brain scan. There was nothing there. He said we could keep him on the vent, we could, you know, he could lay there like that but he will never open his eyes, he will never breathe on his own, do anything like that,” his father, Justin, told the station.

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Stevens died after six days after being placed on the ventilator.

“We understand that consumers may have heard about an online “challenge” involving the misuse or abuse 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,” Benadryl posted on its website concerning the challenge.

In 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned this challenge could lead to serious heart issues, seizures, coma, and death.

“We are investigating these reports and conducting a review to determine if additional cases have been reported. We will update the public once we have completed our review or have more information to share. We also contacted TikTok and strongly urged them to remove the videos from their platform and to be vigilant to remove additional videos that may be posted,” the FDA said.

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The tragic death of Stevens has his parents warning other parents to monitor the online activity their children are participating in.

“I am going to do everything I can to try to make sure another child doesn’t go through it,” Dianna Stevens, Jacob’s Grandmother, told the station.

Stevens father has already reached out to lawmakers, including Governor Mike DeWine, to put age restrictions on buying medications such as Benadryl and on social media platforms, according to the station.

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