OH - Jacob Stevens, 13, dies of diphenhydramine overdose from TikTok Benadryl Challenge - Greenfield, April 2023

[ifindedout]

TikTok ‘Benadryl challenge’: Ohio father speaks out after teen son’s unexpected overdose

The Ohio father of a 13-year-old boy who apparently overdosed on Benadryl in a TikTok challenge has a message for parents: "Pay closer attention to what your kids are doing."

www.foxnews.com

The father of an Ohio 13-year-old who died after overdosing on Benadryl tablets in an apparent TikTok challenge is speaking out after burying his son.

Jacob Stevens of Greenfield, Ohio, decided to partake in the challenge with his friends earlier this month and landed in the hospital, where he ultimately was declared brain-dead before his parents took him off life support, according to his father, Justin Stevens.

"They sit back and make billions and billions of dollars," Stevens said of TikTok, "and I can't even wake up and say hello to my kid anymore, you know?"

Local teen dies attempting Tik Tok challenge, parents warn other families

A local teen is dead after overdosing on an over the counter medication. He was trying to copy a Tik Tok challenge. His family spoke only with our stephanie dup

abc6onyourside.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A local teen is dead after overdosing on an over-the-counter medication. He was trying to copy a Tik Tok challenge.

The teen's family spoke only with ABC 6.

The challenge was to take 12 to 14 pills, which would create a hallucination, but instead, that overdose killed 13-year-old Jacob Stevens. Jacob's family told ABC 6 that he was on a ventilator for about a week.

UPDATE | TikTok releases statement following Ohio teen's Benadryl death​

Now his parents want you to see the photo of Jacob in the hospital, showing what this challenge did to their son.

"I’m going to do anything I can to make sure another child doesn’t go through it," Jacob's grandmother, Dianna Stevens said in tears.

 

[LaborDayRN]

The father of an Ohio 13-year-old who died after overdosing on Benadryl tablets in an apparent TikTok challenge is speaking out after burying his son.

Jacob Stevens of Greenfield, Ohio, decided to partake in the challenge with his friends earlier this month and landed in the hospital, where he ultimately was declared brain-dead before his parents took him off life support, according to his father, Justin Stevens.

"They sit back and make billions and billions of dollars," Stevens said of TikTok, "and I can't even wake up and say hello to my kid anymore, you know?"

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A local teen is dead after overdosing on an over-the-counter medication. He was trying to copy a Tik Tok challenge.

The teen's family spoke only with ABC 6.

The challenge was to take 12 to 14 pills, which would create a hallucination, but instead, that overdose killed 13-year-old Jacob Stevens. Jacob's family told ABC 6 that he was on a ventilator for about a week.

UPDATE | TikTok releases statement following Ohio teen's Benadryl death​

Now his parents want you to see the photo of Jacob in the hospital, showing what this challenge did to their son.

"I’m going to do anything I can to make sure another child doesn’t go through it," Jacob's grandmother, Dianna Stevens said in tears.

This is heartbreaking. Rest in peace Jacob. You didn't deserve to be misled like this.
I hope there is serious legal action taken against tiktok. Not that it will help Jacob but perhaps it will protect others.

 

[Soulmagent]

I kinda got suck on the statement from the link op posted .
''The company shared condolences for the family and said TikTok removes content that promotes dangerous behavior to discourage "copy cats."
Umm..

 

[neesaki]

Tragic. TikTok needs to go away. Jmo

 

[ChatteringBirds]

TikTok and similar play no positive role in society. They are very addictive to children's brains (due to their algorithms, etc.)

I know so many people who see awful changes in their child/teen's moods and behavior after watching YouTube or TikTok.
There's something really dark and dangerous about the unending, highly-negative, fast-paced content.

My heart goes out to Jacob's family. I believe this kind of thing could happen in any family. So sad.

 

[wendybtn]

Benadryl needs to be by prescription only again. People take it for multiple reasons that it was not intended for. And it can have some deathly side effects.

 

[Soulmagent]

Benadryl needs to be by prescription only again. People take it for multiple reasons that it was not intended for. And it can have some deathly side effects.

Benadryl non prescribed saves a lot of people from a gambit of reactions everyday. Why they dont leave out the red dye is my main issue with it and it's intended uses.

 

[Cubby]

Prescription only won't change anything if kids have access to medicine in the home.

Stores should check ID when selling benadryl. I have to show ID for caffeine pills, but not for benedryl. I

 

[LadyL]

poor kiddo

RIP Jacob

 

[lonewanderer]

This is heartbreaking. Rest in peace Jacob. You didn't deserve to be misled like this.
I hope there is serious legal action taken against tiktok. Not that it will help Jacob but perhaps it will protect others.

But how?

Who's feed do you hold to the fire?

There is such a confusing tree of ownership for the app. Bytedance, owned by China, then it gets more and more convoluted. Its not like there is a Musk, Bezos, or Zuckerberg to point fingers at.

That puppet they put on trial to be grilled by clueless boomers changed absolutely nothing.

There is SO much more about Tik Tok that is extremely shady and unethical, on a global level.

 

[wendybtn]

Prescription only won't change anything if kids have access to medicine in the home.

Stores should check ID when selling benadryl. I have to show ID for caffeine pills, but not for benedryl. I

My point was there should be a better control on the medicine because it's mostly scary side effects if you are not having an acute allergic reaction.

 

[DrQ]

IMHO Many years ago when the internet was in its infancy and social media was just kicking in I looked at Mr. Wonderful (my hubby) over dinner and said social media will be a blessing and a curse.
This one is a curse.
Peer pressure, bullying, challenges, and youthful minds all equal potential disaster.
The desire to be famous/infamous with followers can be wonder for many and dangerous for others. As a parent who looked into the eyes of my 13 year old son many years ago and searched for the wonderful person I knew was still inside, I knew I could not completely protect him...no matter how hard I tried. I am lucky he survived.
My heart breaks for this family's loss of their young Jacob. RIP Jacob. So sad.

 

[Baciagalupo]

TikTok and similar play no positive role in society. They are very addictive to children's brains (due to their algorithms, etc.)

I know so many people who see awful changes in their child/teen's moods and behavior after watching YouTube or TikTok.
There's something really dark and dangerous about the unending, highly-negative, fast-paced content.

My heart goes out to Jacob's family. I believe this kind of thing could happen in any family. So sad.

I completely agree. My cousin just separated from his fiancee because of her TikTok addiction, at least 6 hours a day. And she is 26, just imagine what this does to developing brains.

 

[PrairieWind]

The challenge was to take 12-14 Benadryl pills? and his friends videoed him doing it?
This is a horrible horrible tragedy. Maybe there should be better warnings on the box? or behind the counter and age restriction purchase? But I don't think that is really the solution. The challenge is to do something "wild." So if you take this away, it just will be replaced by something else. Teach our youth to make better decisions. Don't take drugs. If you see a fried or other kid talking a lot of pills, tell them to stop or find someone to tell. What did the kids watching this think was going to happen? Hold tiktok responsible? ok. How about identifying and locating the person that actually posted the challenge.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

[

What did the kids watching this think was going to happen? Hold tiktok responsible?

The decision-making areas of their brains are so underdeveloped at that age. I presume they thought an interesting experience (hallucinations or a high, maybe) was going to happen. I don't have a teenager yet, but I've heard parents say they were just shocked at the decisions their "smart" teens still made. Especially when it comes to trying something "cool" or being part of a group.

Why should TikTok or other platforms never be held responsible for their content? They make money from their content.

 

[Soulmagent]

I completely agree. My cousin just separated from his fiancee because of her TikTok addiction, at least 6 hours a day. And she is 26, just imagine what this does to developing brains.

It scares me how hugely detrimental it really could be , like changing the whole way families -family together.
Kids are working tablets and forming relationships with apps even before forming one with their parents. In the long, run do the Tik Toking kids possibly feel closer to the content than to real life relationships?
So kids used to watch their parents behavior as an infant ,toddlers used to be interested in watching what mom does as she goes about her day ,that time used to be where they developed a sense of self and grew their personalities,and learned how to survive in this world. The time a parent is actually in the baby or kids face is considerly less than it has ever been so I think by the time my nieces 3 year old is 26 they way we human will look way different and very aloof in person to person relationships . Scary !


Crazy 6 hours ! I cant do it .
I can spend days on this forum ,6 hours here is nothing so I guess a ton of us should feel great about our husbands not leaving us over our true crime hobby / life style choices.

My oldest was a grown up when Tik Tok came out ,thankfully because that kid would have tryed all the challenges .
She did all kinda of things such as ,snow boarded off my roof, ate a frog ,jumped a six foot fence .
Iet weird carnies put a tattoo on her, ran off with the carnavil. She came back one week later.
She definitly does not behave like that anymore but the years between age 11 and 14 was definitly rougher with her trying to be whatever she was trying -to build her peer network . By 20 that peer network had faded and she built a true to herself peer network .

 

[Deleted member 326769]

Benadryl needs to be by prescription only again. People take it for multiple reasons that it was not intended for. And it can have some deathly side effects.

IMO that’s not the answer. You can abuse just about any OTC med. we need to start taking personal responsibility again not just creating more control for the healthcare system etc.

 

[NextSprint]

This is awful. I was under the impression Benadryl just by itself - at overdose levels - couldn't kill somebody (unless they were in water, or took other central depressants).

 

[PrairieWind]

[

The decision-making areas of their brains are so underdeveloped at that age. I presume they thought an interesting experience (hallucinations or a high, maybe) was going to happen. I don't have a teenager yet, but I've heard parents say they were just shocked at the decisions their "smart" teens still made. Especially when it comes to trying something "cool" or being part of a group.

Why should TikTok or other platforms never be held responsible for their content? They make money from their content.

As much as I despise tiktok, I don't see how focusing on them is productive. They provide a platform for people to post stuff on. Whether it is youtube or facebook or tiktok or whoever, we have been trying to get the to monitor content for a decade. It isn't working. We need to focus on those making the posts and then teach our kids how to make better decisions.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I can spend days on this forum ,6 hours here is nothing so I guess a ton of us should feel great about our husbands not leaving us

True. I could walk 100% away from this website if I had to to save my marriage, but it would be tough, because it's my "escape." However I'm not a teenager nor 20-something. And I know I'd crave it heavily and -- this site doesn't come close to the addictive algorithms that social media platforms use.