- Thirteen-year-old Jacob Stevens was a vibrant, loving kid passionate about football, and he brought joy and laughter to his family and friends
- He always had a way of brightening their day, but one unfortunate decision changed everything, and the family is now mourning the loss of their beloved son
- Jacob had been attempting a TikTok challenge that involved taking an excessive amount of over-the-counter medication
Jacob Stevens was well-mannered, funny, and a talented football player for Greenfield schools, but all that ended when he decided to participate in a TikTok challenge that would prove fatal.
The challenge required Jacob to take 12 to 14 pills of Benadryl. He expected the drug to create a hallucination. However, instead of experiencing a trip, Jacob suffered an overdose that took his life.
TikTok challenge went wrong
His family described his last moments in the hospital, where he had been on a ventilator for six days.
Speaking to ABC6, Jacob’s grandmother, Dianna Stevens, said in tears.
“I’m going to do anything I can to ensure another child doesn’t go through it.”
They wanted the world to see the photo of Jacob in the hospital, to show the devastating effects of online challenges and to urge other parents to monitor their children’s online activity.
Jacob’s dad heartbroken
Jacob’s death has left his family and community devastated. His father, Justin Stevens, was moved to tears by the outpouring of support from Jacob’s peers, who shared how he had helped them in their own lives.
He described it as the worst day of his life; he struggled to keep his composure as he spoke about his son.
“When he did, it all came at once, and it was too much for his body; it’s my life goal now to create awareness. I’ll go at it until the day I die.”
Protect children from social media
Jacob’s family is now trying to turn their tragedy into a message of hope. His family is on a mission to ensure that no other child has to suffer the same fate.
They are urging other parents to keep a close eye on their children’s social media activity and to talk to them about the dangers of online challenges.
They are also working on getting lawmakers to put age restrictions on buying over-the-counter medication, such as Benadryl, to prevent another tragedy like Jacob’s.
TikTok sued in US
In 2022, video-sharing sensation TikTok was sued in California after children died while participating in a “Blackout Challenge.”
The challenge involved making fun of choking oneself until passing out.
Some children took it too far, resulting in the death of an eight-year-old girl in Texas and a nine-year-old girl in Wisconsin.
