Overview
- Connecticut's Office of the Child Advocate confirmed that three children died from diphenhydramine overdoses in the past two months and alerted the state Department of Public Health while asking providers to discuss safe storage.
- America's Poison Centers reports calls about teen diphenhydramine exposures in the first five months of 2026 were more than double the same period in 2025, driven in part by intentional misuse to get high.
- State officials say they have not verified a direct link between the Connecticut deaths and the viral 'Benadryl Challenge,' but clinicians and local reporters warn the online trend may be resurfacing.
- Medical experts and the manufacturer urge parents to lock up or remove diphenhydramine, to use second‑generation antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine for routine allergies, and to contact Poison Control for suspected overdoses.
- Social platforms and Kenvue say they are removing dangerous posts, investigations into the deaths are ongoing, and health officials are expanding outreach to treatment providers and mental health resources.