Nipissing First Nation in Ontario is warning families about the return of the so-called "Benadryl challenge" on TikTok. The alert says some young people are taking high doses of the common allergy medication in an attempt to hallucinate.
Leadership calls the trend "dangerous." The challenge encourages taking up to 12 tablets at once, the maximum dose over 24 hours. Overdose symptoms include breathing problems, seizures, and coma. A 15-year-old in Oklahoma City died from this in 2020, and a 13-year-old in Ontario's Ottawa Valley recently overdosed.
Health experts say teens mistake over-the-counter drugs for safe, but the risks are severe. Health Canada and the U.S. FDA have urged TikTok to block such content. The First Nation urges caregivers to talk to youth about medication safety and lock up all drugs.