Kids are at it again. The dangerous Paracetamol Challenge is back.

Children and teenagers continue to be hospitalized after overdosing on over-the-counter medications. This trend, known as the Paracetamol Challenge, can lead to serious liver damage.
For several years now, children and teenagers have been hospitalized for taking too large a dose of a drug containing a popular painkiller.
This year, it is the first signal, but unfortunately, it is quite common for young people to consume various types of medicines under several trends that we know about but which we do not report on, because for now these are isolated cases of publication (cough syrups, nasal drops, eye drops), says Kinga Szostko , creator of the free alert application for parents www.KidsAlert.pl.
Szostko has his eyes on the Paracetamol Challenge . It's a "game," a trend involving taking large doses of painkillers for entertainment purposes, often documented in videos posted on social media. While it may seem like harmless fun, it carries serious health risks.
Last year, 49 people were treated for paracetamol poisoning at Warsaw's Praga Hospital , 16 of whom developed liver damage. In the United States, nearly half of acute liver failure cases are the result of a paracetamol overdose, PAP reminds.
One of the issues in this case is the widespread availability of many medications. Szostko notes that over-the-counter medications containing painkillers are displayed at checkout counters in stores and are readily available. He points out that their sale is practically unregulated, making them easily accessible to children.
There's often a misconception that over-the-counter medications are safe. We know this isn't the case, because the dose makes the poison. Any over-the-counter medication, even paracetamol, if administered incorrectly or inappropriately, can be very toxic to the body – this is what Dr. Magdalena Beata Skarżyńska , a pharmacist at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Warsaw, and the Institute of Sensory Organs, told Health Policy almost exactly one year ago, warning against drug abuse.
Psychologists point to several factors contributing to the popularity of such challenges. Young people often seek acceptance within their peer group and want to stand out online. A lack of awareness of the risks and easy access to over-the-counter medications further exacerbate the risk.
Another factor that somewhat explains this behavior is the tendency to experiment, which is also a developmental characteristic of adolescents. Transgressing certain boundaries, reaching for the forbidden, "balancing on the edge" – these are natural behaviors in young people that lead to developing their own strategies for coping with difficulties and building a system of values, explains child psychologist Ewa Bensz-Smagała from the Department of Psychology at the W. Korfanty University of Upper Silesia in Katowice.
And Prof. Marek Krawczyk , head of the Clinic of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery at the Independent Public Central Clinical Hospital in Warsaw in 1998–2016, warns that this is not a safe game.
In such situations, patients must be given an antidote as quickly as possible. Very high doses can cause liver damage to the point where a liver transplant is the only solution," he says.
And as soon as you suspect someone has taken too much, get to the hospital as quickly as possible. The drug is absorbed quickly.
It's completely absorbed within three hours of ingestion, and if there's too much of it, liver cell damage begins. If an overdose occurs, liver necrosis occurs within 24–48 hours, adds Professor Krawczyk.
Experts are calling for greater education on the safe use of medications and monitoring children's online activity. Parents should talk to their children about the risks associated with such trends and be aware of the availability of medications in public places. It's also important to report such challenges to the appropriate authorities so they can take preventative measures.
The Paracetamol Challenge is just one of many dangerous trends on the internet. It's important for young people to be aware of the consequences of their actions and recognize the dangers of popular challenges.
Source: PAP/sko/politykazdrowia.com Updated: 02/10/2025 18:30
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