Amid social media challenge, calls to poison centers for Benadryl among teens more than double this year than last
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Key Points:
- Calls to poison centers involving diphenhydramine and teens in early 2026 have more than doubled compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a rising trend in misuse of the medication.
- The increase is largely attributed to teens intentionally abusing diphenhydramine to achieve a euphoric high, rather than accidental ingestion, with intentional abuse cases rising from 7.3% in 2020 to 13.2% in 2026.
- Connecticut officials reported three recent teen deaths linked to diphenhydramine overdoses, though it remains unclear if these are connected to social media challenges promoting misuse.
- Diphenhydramine overdose can cause serious health risks including hallucinations, seizures, heart problems, and loss of consciousness, prompting warnings from America's Poison Centers and the medication's manufacturer.
- Kenvue, maker of Benadryl, condemned the social media trend encouraging diphenhydramine misuse and emphasized the importance of product safety and stopping dangerous behaviors immediately.