It is almost impossible to get through childhood and adolescence with out making some questionable – and sometimes downright stupid – decisions. Growing up means pushing boundaries and taking on risks. Our kids are always innovating new ways to hurt themselves. We try to protect them from danger, but it’s impossible.
Social media is not helping. It increases the influence of peer pressure and rewards risky behavior with likes, share and empty promises of instant fame.
Purva Grover MD , a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, says that it’s a tricky situation because teens get positive reinforcement from all the views and likes they receive on their videos. “So the riskier or more shocking the video, the higher the chance that it will be seen by more people.”
The challenge videos are especially insidious. Viral challenges on TikTok, and other social media platforms, encourage youth to take risks. From swallowing cinnamon to blacking out to choke oneself (which could cause permanent lung damage), to choking to the point of brain death (which rendered a 10-year old girl brain dead), young people are encouraged to record themselves doing inane things.
Misuse and abuse of OTC medications was one of the most dangerous social media challenges. A second medication-based social media challenge was a hoax. It’s a powerful reminder that not all you see on Facebook is real.
We spoke with Dr. Grover to find out why viral videos based on medication are dangerous and what parents can to do keep their children safe.
OTC medication challenges
You may be confused if this is your first time learning about TikTok Challenges involving OTC medications. This is understandable. What are the people doing in these videos? is it really a problem? !
It turns out that the answer is complicated.
We will illustrate this by submitting two stories about the most popular challenges that involve medication abuse. The Benadryl (r) challenge, and the “sleepy-chicken” challenge. The first was a true challenge and extremely dangerous. One was a real challenge, and incredibly dangerous.
Benadryl Challenge
In 2020, the TikTok Challenge urged users take large quantities of the over-the counter drug diphenhydramine – also known as Benadryl – to induce hallucinations and altered mental states.
Benadryl, an antihistamine, is most commonly used for seasonal allergies. However, it can also be used to reduce cold symptoms, itching caused by bug bites or rashes, and itching due to hives.
Dr. Grover said that the challenge was dangerous and both parents and teens should be aware of its risks.
Benadryl challenged users to take up to 12 tablets in one sitting. However, the instructions state that children between 6 and 12 years old should only take 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours. Adults should not exceed 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Instructions also state that the medication should not be taken more than six time in 24 hours.
When taken properly, diphenhydramine can cause drowsiness. But taken in excessive amounts, risks can include:
- High body temperature, heart rate and high blood pressure
- Confusion, sedation, delirium, hallucination.
- A blurred vision can lead to falls and injuries.
- Retention of Urinary Records
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Dizziness.
What is the most likely outcome? Death. Death.
Benadryl in large doses can lead to high heart rates that can cause an arrhythmia or trigger a stroke, seizure, or cardiac arrest. These conditions can cause permanent brain damage and induce a coma.
Dr. Grover says that an overdose can affect everyone differently. Dr. Grover says that it is impossible to predict the outcome of an overdose because people will react differently. This makes the challenge so dangerous and difficult.
The Benadryl Challenge and its effects were real. However, you should not believe everything that is posted on social media. Ask the FDA!
Sleepy chicken was not a true challenge, but a cautionary story worth telling.
The (fake), “sleepy Chicken” Challenge
The FDA issued its second statement in the fall of 2022 highlighting the dangers associated with social media challenges that involve medications. The FDA’s second-ever statement was released in the fall of 2022, highlighting the dangers of social media challenges involving medications.
The FDA claims that the Nyquil(r), chicken challenge encourages people to cover chicken with cough medicine, cook the chicken on the stove, and then — hopefully — eat the monstrosity. The organization took great pains to explain that you should never cook cough medicine and why it is dangerous to overdose on it.
If the challenge had been real, this information would have been very useful. It wasn’t.
existed on the internet but in a very small way and as a joke. The FDA announcement was what alerted people to the concept. A spokesperson for TikTok told journalists that the FDA’s announcement was what prompted five searches on their platform for Nyquil Chicken.
In the week following their announcement, searches increased by 1,400%.
Interested journalists quickly learned that there were no reports of a person being sickened or killed as a result of that particular culinary/pharmaceutical misadventure because it wasn’t real.
Whoops.
Keep your child safe
Social media won’t disappear anytime soon. Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, both for good and bad.
It’s also important to remember the positive. Social media, for all its faults – and there are many – can be useful. Social media is social. Growing up on social media involves learning how to communicate, making friends with similar interests, and developing media literacy skills with the right education and support.
Although it is possible to prevent your child from using any social media, this may not be the best option. Talking about TikTok and other dangerous trends is the best way to protect your child.
These conversations can even calm your fears if, as with the Nyquil Chicken Challenge, the challenge that you heard is not real.
Social media is a topic that you should discuss with your children
Dr. Grover believes that you should include online videos and viral challenges in the conversations with your kids. You’ll want to discuss what your children are seeing on social media and online, just as you would with illegal drugs, sexting , vaping and safe sexual activity.
OTC drugs can be as dangerous as prescription medicines. It’s important to let your child know that any substance can be abused, misused or overdosed. Also, remind them that not everyone is affected by medications in the same way. They may not get seriously ill if they see someone misusing medication on TikTok, but other people will. These challenges are rarely captured in viral videos, but they’re still very real.
Dr. Grover says that the more you discuss the negative effects of social media, the greater the awareness.
It’s not only what they see online. Your child’s risk taking behavior can be influenced by their friends, babysitters and older siblings. This is another reason to stay on top of what your child is doing.
Model responsible medication use
Even though your kids may not appear to be paying attention to you – and they often don’t – you should still lead by example. If you’re using over-the-counter medication, it is important to read the Drug Facts and follow the directions.
You may be surprised at how many conventional beliefs about medications are wrong. Be sure to familiarize yourself (like with this site) with reliable sources of medical information. This will help you avoid spreading misinformation or encouraging risky behaviors.
Inventory your home
The danger of social media challenges involving over-the-counter drugs or everyday household items, such as laundry soap pods, is that the materials can be easily obtained.
It’s especially important if you’ve got young children at home, or children who may be more susceptible to peer pressure, to lock the safety caps on both prescription drugs and OTC medications. Keep them in a secure location out of reach. Consider getting a childproof cabinet lock depending on the age of your child.
What to do when your child misuses medication
You should contact .
Call 911 immediately if you see any of the following:
- You child may be experiencing hallucinations.
- The person is struggling to breath.
- They are having a fit.
- You can’t wake them up.
Subscribe, Like and Share… with Responsibility
The social media has become a part of our everyday lives. Social media is everywhere: in our homes and offices, as well as at schools. There are many challenges in this world, and some of them are great! If your children are interested in having fun, they can take part in social media challenges such as TikTok. They may learn a new song, style a new outfit or lip-sync for their life. Or, they might create new recipes.
