A 15-year-old Oklahoma teen has been left with "no brain activity" in intensive care. According to People, this comes after she allegedly participated in a viral social media trend.
The trend is known as the "Benadryl Challenge", where people take a lot of the allergy medication in an ill-fated attempt to get high.
But, according to her father, things didn't go well at all for Leah Presson. Leah suffered seizures as well as a cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She still does not have any brain activity.
Richard Presson, Leah's father, said to ABC 8 that he tells her "keep fighting and stay strong. You got this. You're a fighter," when he's at her bedside.
He revealed that they first thought the seizures could have been related to their family's history of asthma. But, upon the hospital telling them she had no brain activity, the dire truth was revealed.
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The Viral Challenge Has Been Long Warned Against
The challenge originated back in 2020, when the FDA released a statement condemning it. They explained in October of that year that taking higher doses of the allergy medication can "lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death."
The active ingredient in benadryl, diphenhydramine, is a type of antihistamine usually used to treat hayfever symptoms.
But, popular platforms where the challenge would have propagated have insisted there are rigorous checks in place to prevent people from seeing them.
TikTok, for one, said that they do not show videos of viral dangerous challenges. Rather, they direct users to its Online Challenges Safety Center. The center gives a four-step plan for users to make sure they don't do dangerous challenges:
"STOP / THINK / DECIDE / ACT"
They added that the "Benadryl Challenge" specifically has been blacklisted on the site for years now. It should instead redirect to their safety center.
YouTube also said they "have strict, long-standing policies prohibiting content that encourages dangerous challenges that risk serious injury or death and the abuse of non-regulated substances."
Our thoughts and prayers are with Leah and her family. We hope she recovers soon.
