Authorities Warn of Dangerous 'Benadryl Challenge' on Social Media

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Authorities in Virginia Beach are raising alarms about the 'Benadryl Challenge,' a dangerous new social media trend where teens are intentionally overdosing on the over-the-counter allergy medication Benadryl in an attempt to get high and stay awake. This challenge has already resulted in hospitalizations, underscoring the critical need for parental supervision and engagement to address the growing problem of viral social media challenges targeting impressionable youth.

Why it matters

The Benadryl Challenge highlights the broader issue of how social media trends can rapidly spread and endanger teens, similar to the Tide Pod Challenge a few years ago. Parental awareness and involvement are crucial to addressing these emerging online dangers, as teens may be drawn to these challenges due to a desire for attention, a sense of belonging, and the thrill of taking risks.

The details

According to Lt. Kevin Lokey of the Virginia Beach Police Department, the goal of the Benadryl Challenge is for teens to overdose on the allergy medication in order to get high and stay awake. However, this can have severe health consequences, including death. Lokey emphasizes that these types of viral challenges can spread quickly online, with new dangerous trends emerging regularly.

• The Benadryl Challenge has recently emerged as a concerning trend.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Virginia Beach Police Department is continuing to work with the community, including through programs like the parent advisory committee, to raise awareness and address the growing problem of dangerous social media challenges targeting teens.