Horry County, SC – A mother is sounding the alarm after her teenage daughter almost died after participating in a dangerous TikTok trend involving Benadryl, highlighting growing concerns over social media challenges targeting minors.
Teen Hospitalized After Taking Benadryl
The teen’s mother said her daughter began hallucinating last week and her heart rate spiked to nearly 200 beats per minute.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the mother rushed her daughter to the hospital after discovering Benadryl pills under her pillow.
“I asked her how many she took, and she told me two, but I didn’t believe her because the bottle was open and there were pills on the bed,” the mother said. “My husband and I counted them, and we noticed a large amount was missing.”
At the hospital, doctors asked if the ingestion was a suicide attempt. The teen said it was not and explained that a friend told her she could get high by taking enough Benadryl.
Dangerous Trend on Social Media
The mother looked through her daughter’s phone and found the Benadryl challenge trend all over TikTok.
“I saw all of the different TikToks she had been looking at,” the mother said. “They were all kids doing Benadryl, and it just kind of blew my mind. I thought that was a safe medication. Not something a teenager would get into.”
Attempts to report the videos were unsuccessful, as they were found not to violate TikTok’s guidelines, leaving parents concerned about the lack of safeguards against risky trends.
How the Teen Got the Pills
The mother revealed her daughter had secretly purchased the pills by going into a store alone, showing how easily minors can access over-the-counter medications.
“It was really hard,” the mother said. “It was really scary. It was one of the hardest things we have been through. It really had an impact on her not being able to remember what happened that night and the next day waking up in the hospital. It scared her a lot.”
Warning to Other Parents
Since the incident, the mother has been closely monitoring her daughter’s phone and online activity. She urges other parents to be vigilant and look out for warning signs, including:
- Strange behavior or hallucinations
- Troubling breathing patterns
- Dry mouth
- Unexplained medication missing from home
“I just don’t want any other parent to go through this,” she said.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for parents about the dangers of social media challenges involving medications, and the need for open conversations with teens about online risks.
Have you or your children come across dangerous social media trends like this? What steps do you take to keep your teens safe online? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
