# Benadryl Challenge: Teen left brain dead from viral TikTok trend

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-16 17:07 UTC · Category: Health

## Executive Summary
A TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’ is linked to multiple overdoses, including a teen left brain dead and three child deaths.

## Intelligence Brief
A viral TikTok trend that encourages the ingestion of Benadryl is resulting in overdoses, hospitalizations and deaths across several states. Coverage highlights a teen left brain dead (NewsNation), three Connecticut children who died of apparent overdose (CT Mirror), and a poison center reporting a rise in Benadryl overdoses (WSB-TV).


Experts and parents in Oklahoma are issuing warnings after a daughter was hospitalized (KFOR.com) and the challenge reached the state (KOCO). Future reporting will likely track additional hospitalizations, statements from health authorities and any response from social‑media platforms as the trend spreads.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| NewsNation | Benadryl Challenge: Deadly TikTok trend keeps coming back | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxON18zRkpQYVBRVXljWm5fNmphSC1CVGxuUndVeUlQU3lrSVlySjgwVkhlZzZqMlZ3cDBlLTYxNE5hRHJfT0N1d2YyUzg1TC15azBPUjEyWkJIWmJ2SkN1Rk8yMXowSzZNczFPaXpENHAwQi1hNnR3bWkyNE5XNm5QOVZweUJmdUthSFHSAY8BQVVfeXFMT1RHOGlpMTNJV3JobUJEQ0EzYl9seGVJMTJYY2JWaGJFSUF3ejBWZk82V1k3eVo5U2dpekpicW04UkR0Qm5LSmh0d1RGNFQtWUp5SmpTOFg0TV9NNGZJeTZaWjRSbEd5c2ZUZ194UzIyYnpvZTdhME5DV3ByalpSS0Z5MGgxaUtWTkVBM2ZRNWs?oc=5) |
| Christian Post | Teen left brain dead from TikTok challenge desired online fame, father says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQd2VVZlBEaG5GQkw2Wm1GQmZIVzBJanpjWVh1WXBlb3VPUTBlRFl5T05icmxpVG9GMVRrNnpidWVrbXJiX0NiYzYwVFc1M0NQQnpabVRmOFc4UDAtcmtNV2lJVzlheFNxSVB4QVoxdnZvWnZNZEprT3REUG9aaXBGMGxRWmtMZDhQRjcwTmNhLXZURjc2cG9ac3NXeF9fNXBsaC1GSQ?oc=5) |
| The Nightly | Teen left brain dead after viral social media challenge | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxNaGozRkdWNzVqSm04UlRRODBMOWtPcXdreVRMXzJfYXBybmdSMGZYTmJPenhFbDFtQUZuUGhYS0F0RndzUThHVHpvWFRLSnFsemxhal9vLUxyVDBtZ01JNEtTd3NpdnhkaklremJ6c2VvVnFCUUxCaEF0ek1rM0RncVJObE82a2Ywc1FCeXRnQ18zZjNQdzlwSFpka3FybGZxQWVWQnhoQXlYTmxMNWhXdnRVVzNRaTBjZGpkZFlSUmR4S00yM0NlT2N6QlBHZw?oc=5) |
| News.com.au | 15yo girl ‘brain dead’ amid ‘uptick’ in trend | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi9wFBVV95cUxQMnlyX3BzUW85T2Q4cExtYWVkTWFpLXlEVTNEbThsTEUxTEY2VHlSYUY3NGIwTlFmZkZ3NzNpajF0Q2hiWmhaSTlpdXkwZ3BrWXRjaEhEOGZRUFdFc3hTUXIxel9DTlg1cWJfMjYybjFBZndJVkpfYlNSTFN1cGhzTkJBd0J1RGpzT3NCX3FHMkFTcVJ4Si1ObVZReWlQTGtialZ1MGE0cXk3SmdUb0Uwd0RMSXlmbkhkYWtBWVQ4LWZGeVNsWmJYQkk5eHZybkpyOFlQbVFlUnBsSklFU2c4b1U0QUEzVUMxVkgxWmFMRm1rc3k3SVZ3?oc=5) |
| People.com | Oklahoma Teen Left with 'No Brain Activity' After Allegedly Participating in Viral Challenge, Family Says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxQTVJBVmw2TXJ6bkpUdWtZRDVSQ1R0S2FWQVpLcVNwZUhKLUVVSzJELWxQVFZTUm56WUR5Y2FVdG5OTUgwajhEME9hOEJmSVVudldETkNrME9JQ2xMckNqSzA4QnhObDl5ZHU2UWFfN21uTElfcXNQVWV6X0ZNaUtXaEpHWWh1QjR0YWxXWDFpMW5OY1g5cktXR0U2TjBOYzZvYTN3SHl1NVV2UmFBcXNTUUFWaTlfQQ?oc=5) |
| KOCO | 'Benadryl Challenge' reaches Oklahoma, experts warn parents | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNb213aUt0S0RpNEstVkRoSHNna01sNlZoaC1aSWQ0d1hkNDZ4LW1fNmd2TFpmSFRzbHRId3BkaGk5azRZaXZPNkhOWkltWkdUVHktMnljOTE1a3U3TGNJcWpacEJ4SWhfNFcySkNzVXI0REIxTjNJc2NEcnItUE53UkpJbnVRZ2M?oc=5) |
| CT Mirror | 3 CT children die of apparent overdose as ‘Benadryl challenge’ spreads online | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTE90WDVxWDZMYWMzc0JIVzk4QnRJd3VVaDRiRDM4WEJ2d3o2NDBQemp5NGNVSklMczVyRDNUZU0xWV9XRnJQRTYtZXlPbF9udlBYd0YwZzNZQzhsOUtSZlBKWGs2X29NUURLYW1QNlNONA?oc=5) |
| WSB-TV | Poison center says more people are overdosing on Benadryl | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxQd2FNemk5RTFEem1UU3FxaFlkbHEzdHYyWVZ4bWktbVhkV3ZnYV85aEJSVjQ5Q1VWcUpNbXJieTUxNWZNUzloa21STEQ4UndtUldiUUwwYlZ4bm1iWGQxYlp6cHZqV0I0ZGxYRV91RngxSDJmQkFWUks4Ukx3dWlub3p4VDhFaF9xbFcxbUpkOEJBcUZmYmtmNXpiX1dicDlMSnRZZ0FZRW5EcmlTbXh3SUdpS2hmdmJlOWxnekNnOXnSAdQBQVVfeXFMTVMza1gxblh2QjJJYVFsd0NEWGF3a0p1Sm13ejc3OFhWNUg1N0kwMmJ3SnhOa0tSaURPS3RuRENibXJlV2lOU013LWMwYVJPMVgxb1d3Z3djSU1HbnpfdjJCS3FuSzFzMU9ZYUZhaXZvSUFkazZHMzdOd3M3eHNhVWI3Y0ZSUlphUWpfdDJNOUd1M2R) |
| KFOR.com | Enid father warns parents of social media challenge after daughter is hospitalized | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxPakd4MUNxUnFHRzB5LWdrcEZCbzl3WDhuSTRVaWhDTGszV1oxRVNlekQ1Q3RZY0dZU0dHVFdCOS04OUFpZ3BWU3dNbHA4eTR2c3BGMDI0VWNzUlFGWEstVl9neVhKYTVOSmRIc0l0R20tMVZVNVlhamU0czNFdUxtMUJLd0ZnclB6ZW05OTVrRXFjTGNseWt4dGhMR3c0cEhaRmtzQUdCelHSAa4BQVVfeXFMUGN0YUpsSnU3WEdXZWRweDZYSy1pYXo2aDU1Z3FmeEZIMTR6ZExwM21hS3lwOGxic0hiaDhCLUl0VExia0RucjBzV0dsYzRYS25fZ1BkUFZsSzRrNDFQOHZZVnU2TmQ4LXY2Q1llNC1Zd1lobVZ3ZnlVMDhhWDVKWUVWTWprNWdaX0ZMZXZjLTMtcTRaWk04Nm5zYVhyblVSdEVXbmlTSGppZmp) |
| NewsNation | Benadryl Challenge: Teen left brain dead from viral TikTok trend | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxQdzlvLTlENzlwaTY0UUhmc08yb2NHSVFRZGx3aUV4LXpId3hwYl93eUMwWkprLUxmQkM0aWNMU1YyMTZEZzdBZUlLRW5BbTI3b3Vlc0RRZmpIZFM0TUEtQ3FGcW1pZTQ4WnpWQ1pwOHpFMFRkakpNamtZLVpHNUhsQW1NUzAwd9IBiwFBVV95cUxPMzBMSnVvMGdCVmNIcTNYUldKV1JUdkFTaVBIeld6TWhzM2RCekcxNzVpVDNoam85SHdsTG9CM0l6MW5wNERUQmJ1TjJhNmJ0czJwU1ZHeWdmbHBodE14ZUdNVTdMUWdEVnVOV25ZWGxZNlpSZm5RZ3VMZzQ4NUdoLXlFbHV2OTdza1h3?oc=5) |
| WBAY | Health officials warn parents about dangerous Benadryl challenge on social media | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxPU0VmaXFTS25valdBT1lQVmRjN2VWeE8wUkQxcUhCRzRnQ0tzelZReHNHUlZONk5jVm5VZ3IzOExab2gzcXl4YTkwZlotMXFuODJJbEdKdWtkUjJVZ0hqeS1jYVdTWE5pTGNuS0JXMUhFblUwYWpmSklmeGsxUFZKQTdPZFpJdlpyUS1xbDY1aGNsamxRLU5EeGRJWHBWNzdaNDBFMzhEamxuVXFUelNn0gHDAUFVX3lxTE5FOHBKMWs2eEViNUhNbHI1T1E2QTZic25Bb1l1WUtuSzFDbkNOTXh0U2lVaUtac2w1cVczWWZBTkd1YTJodEwzcDVISDJDa3M3bFByQ0FJeTJvWUJ3blVJajBYWE5wZXBCenllLXBBQnpCMUtYeHVkX1NKZDVxNm9ER0RDVmpqNXdrdWRTV0lWRVdaVDdkSkZQSWE0SkZVLWRvMmR) |
| KFOR | Connecticut officials issue warning over drug linked to ‘Benadryl challenge’ after deaths of 3 children | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNbmNWaWFfUjFyRi0xbjJwYWhxTzl6RDBobi1BQUlaVmNZQnVSSmh1N1lBQXpJcGxsV0JOQ1oxdC1rbW1UTHJGTm5JMXlqR1M0VVl2M3FkX3pSb2tvWG5iVEM0alV1RzJiWXk4aHpFVXZZcHRpQTRseVpPQWJtX0lsT1piYzZXUXlOWGY1Z0JzcnpxUkN3OWJ4UUd3Q05LNjFnSjI0YllhTzZ1UTRKUUJOQjg3UHdMVG9XUDR0OW5SWFZFd9IBxwFBVV95cUxQWmEwREN2RktKVlhfS01oV3RFOEdPaEU4RFUyVXhyVzIwV3VJUVY2bklVZThMZ3oyNUpvWmNJRm9PRDRrZVAtZDJVZFBaaWFnMi1Fc2gxcHFTcHhaVVN2enVCSnFMRzdtOVBnLVlwejBZdGtxcXU0UjBUdXNCWGdVNi1OWXVoVkxBSGJJTG1tTXV) |
| FOX13 Memphis | Mid-South doctors warn parents about dangers of ‘Benadryl Challenge’ after Oklahoma teen declared brain dead | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwJBVV95cUxNM0E2QnpHdXVMa08wTnZuSWxVLVVaUWljeGdhQnZUZ25RR3ZrdG9vUktENmJDWXNZSFNBX1dIT1FBVnJtbTVZRS1UMlVBNUF0RlhVd285emNDOGFTNF9VSVVHWWpUOXB2b3hpYUJpbDBOWWF5ckdlMWpzck9nQk1NRlpOMkdScTFyb2tpRTVOeVJTQlA0RFB6bEJWNjk3Tnp6ajNvYVlxalZNLTNDQlF1c0syRVNpckRIbk9HVmJnU0ZQZWVZVk9OQjNieTl1TXVuekNFdDVIc0gyOUYybUlYX0JjQXk0U1hSU191ck9nSlZqNDF2WVlrQXViNW9qTlFTakVsa0dFNmNQQlhkTXh5V2Q3WQ?oc=5) |
| NewsNation | Benadryl Challenge: Teen left brain dead after viral TikTok | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNeFpnT3FweDJ1RHpwSVV2TFFoWXZhRnJzU2VIcGFNeWFCLUNhSllKejNPdk1FcF9wU3dUWmU5OERGOUM1Tlo4aDhDODloMkhESTU3S1kwWFB3SU00MWl0N3dVaHRpLXl0SHJGMGtzdG95bkxOaWxqcVlwOC1ycmYxbTZFQ0RBcnoxM3N1VnJhTdIBlAFBVV95cUxQZkZJTUwyUXd1eUVzSzZ3QTdBR0tVVXN6OTZEanliTWk4Y0VYYXlvdk9NaHNsNldXTGxBVTlBUXRjcEhlRmNXTnZJMENKSjNubkE3LVNHd2lKWW5felo5bHBxRXlyOWlQUGVhNFJydVdmTjl6bTBQM192VnJSSUZqeUw1UUxoeEFJelVXR0Q4U3RQcFZZ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-16/benadryl-challenge-teen-left-brain-dead-from-viral-tiktok-trend*