Teen Diphenhydramine Cases Double to 6,179 as Georgia Reports 63% Rise in Overdoses

3 articles · Updated · WSB Atlanta · Jun 16

6,179 poison-center calls involving teens and diphenhydramine were logged nationwide in the first five months of 2026, roughly double the year-earlier level.
Georgia reported 278 cases year to date versus 170 in the same 2025 period, a 63% increase that doctors link largely to social media posts promoting Benadryl overdoses for a high.
Physicians said the antihistamine can quickly trigger seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, coma and death, and noted teens can legally buy the over-the-counter drug.
Three children in Connecticut recently died from apparent diphenhydramine overdoses, underscoring doctors' calls for parents to monitor social media use and warn children about misuse.

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