Social media trends combined with peer pressure can pose significant dangers, particularly when they involve misusing medicines. One such trend involves online video clips showing individuals improperly using nonprescription medications and encouraging viewers to follow suit. These challenges often target young people and can result in serious harm or even death. Nonprescription drugs are readily available in many homes, making these trends especially risky.
Nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs carry significant risks when misused or abused. Let’s examine two recent social media drug-related challenges:
The first challenge involves cooking chicken with NyQuil or another similar over-the-counter cough and cold medication, presumably to eat the cooked bird. While this may sound absurd and unappetizing, it can be extremely dangerous. Boiling a medication increases its concentration and alters its properties in harmful ways. Even if you don’t consume the chicken, inhaling the drug vapors while cooking could cause high levels of these substances to enter your body, potentially damaging your lungs.
A previous TikTok challenge instructed participants to take large doses of diphenhydramine (an over-the-counter allergy medicine available under various brands such as Benadryl) with the goal of inducing hallucinations. Following news reports about teenagers needing emergency care and in some cases dying due to this trend, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning regarding high doses of diphenhydramine.
Protecting Your Children
To safeguard your children from these risks:
- Store both over-the-counter and prescription drugs out of reach and locked up to prevent accidental overdoses.
- Carefully discuss the dangers of misusing drugs with your kids, emphasizing how social media trends can lead to real harm, sometimes irreversible damage.
- Aim to raise awareness that overdoses can occur not only with prescription but also over-the-counter medications.
If you suspect your child has taken an excessive amount of medication and is hallucinating or exhibiting other signs like seizures, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness, call 911 immediately. Alternatively, contact poison control at 1-800-222-1222 or visit their website.
Using Over-the-counter Drugs Safely
No matter the trend, it is crucial to use medications as intended. Always read the Drug Facts Label for over-the-counter drugs, which provides essential information about how to use the medicine safely and correctly. The label includes details on what the medication does, who should or shouldn’t take it, and proper usage instructions.
If you have any questions about a specific medication, including over-the-counter drugs, reach out to your healthcare provider or pharmacist or contact the FDA’s Division of Drug Information (DDI). You can email DDI at [email protected] or call them at 1-855-543-DRUG (3784) and 301-796-3400.
To report any adverse events involving medications, including over-the-counter drugs, use the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. You can submit your report online or request a reporting form by calling 1-800-332-1088. Alternatively, you may fax the completed form to 1-800-FDA-0178.
