Poison centers link growing Benadryl abuse among teens to dangerous social media trends

America’s younker person been progressively abusing communal over-the-counter medications, according to poison halfway records.

A wellness advisory from America’s Poison Centers, representing 53 poison centers crossed the country, alerted a "concerning rise" successful cases of diphenhydramine maltreatment among teens ages 13 to 19.

Diphenhydramine is commonly recovered successful allergy and slumber medications specified arsenic Benadryl and Zzzquil, arsenic mentioned successful the advisory.

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From 2024 to 2025, the full vulnerability to immoderate substance among teens successful this property radical reportedly accrued by 5.1%.

But cases involving diphenhydramine unsocial accrued much rapidly, from 10,068 to 13,284 cases, a 32% spike.

Thirteen percent of diphenhydramine cases successful 2026 person been linked to intentional abuse, an summation from 7.3% successful 2020. (iStock)

The inclination appears to beryllium continuing into 2026, arsenic the archetypal 5 months saw 6,179 diphenhydramine-only cases successful teens — much than treble the anterior year.

According to America’s Poison Centers, the vulnerability appears to beryllium driven by recreational misuse alternatively than accidental over-medication. Thirteen percent of cases successful 2026 were linked to intentional abuse, up from 7.3% successful 2020.

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Taking diphenhydramine improperly oregon successful ample amounts tin impact the encephalon and heart, and tin pb to superior oregon life-threatening effects, the advisory warned.

Diphenhydramine is commonly recovered successful over-the-counter allergy and slumber medications. (iStock)

Some symptoms of diphenhydramine poisoning see drowsiness, agitation, accelerated bosom rate, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, seizures, unsafe bosom bushed and nonaccomplishment of consciousness.

To debar overexposure and complications, America’s Poison Centers advises the nationalist to store each medications safely, up high, and retired of scope of kids and teens. Label instructions should beryllium followed carefully.

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"Talk with teens astir the risks of misusing medications, including superior wellness effects and poisoning," the announcement suggested. "Be alert of societal media trends oregon challenges that whitethorn promote unsafe usage of medications."

Those who fishy misuse should interaction the section Poison Control Center immediately.

America's Poison Centers advises the nationalist to "be alert of societal media trends oregon challenges that whitethorn promote unsafe usage of medications." (iStock)

In a connection to Fox News Digital, Benadryl shaper Kenvue commented that the "health and information of radical who usage our products is our apical priority."

"The social media inclination promoting misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products is highly unsafe and should beryllium stopped immediately," a Kenvue spokesperson said. "Our hearts spell retired to those impacted by the misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products."

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"We are moving with societal media level information teams to region these unsafe posts and assistance halt this behaviour from spreading," they added. "We are besides taking enactment to amended connected the harmless usage and retention of over-the-counter medicines, including those with the constituent diphenhydramine."

"The social media inclination promoting misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products is highly unsafe and should beryllium stopped immediately."

Mary Leonard, SVP of communications and nationalist affairs for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, called the caller study "deeply concerning."

"OTC medicines should ne'er beryllium utilized for recreational purposes, and intentional misuse should not beryllium confused with the safe, effectual usage of these products," she told Fox News Digital. "When utilized arsenic directed, millions of Americans trust connected OTC medicines containing diphenhydramine for alleviation from allergies, acold symptoms, question sickness, insignificant tegument irritations and occasional sleeplessness."

"Because misuse of immoderate medicine tin effect successful superior wellness consequences, the Drug Facts statement intelligibly communicates dosing instructions, warnings and different important information information."

"OTC medicines should ne'er beryllium utilized for recreational purposes, and intentional misuse should not beryllium confused with the safe, effectual usage of these products," an manufacture spokesperson said. (iStock)

Kenvue shared the pursuing 3 steps radical tin instrumentality to assistance forestall misuse.

1. Report contented related to this inclination connected the societal media level wherever it appears.
2. Always store OTC medicines up and distant successful places children cannot entree — preferably successful locked cabinets oregon containers — and ne'er permission medications connected counters, bedside tables oregon successful unfastened bags, adjacent temporarily.
3. Carefully work and travel the instructions connected the statement and amended children connected harmless usage.

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"Dosing instructions and further information accusation are disposable on Benadryl.com, and ever retrieve to consult a healthcare nonrecreational should you person questions," the spokesperson added.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Zzzquil shaper P&G for comment.