Cook Children's Medical Center reports Benadryl overdoses and one death
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Apr 30
Cook Children's Medical Center reports Benadryl overdoses and one death
11 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Apr 30
The Fort Worth hospital said more than 100 patients visited its emergency department in the past six months after intentional or accidental misuse.
Doctors linked the cases to social media videos promoting the so-called Benadryl challenge, which falsely claims users can get high or hallucinate by taking large doses.
The hospital said it had seen the challenge before in 2020 and urged parents to talk openly with children as deadly online trends, including the blackout challenge, continue circulating.
Are social media algorithms fueling a hidden epidemic of dangerous challenges among youth, and can new laws truly keep up with evolving online risks?
With digital literacy and platform design both under scrutiny, which approach will most effectively protect children from the next viral health threat?