'Paracetamol Challenge' Social Media Craze Update: Mother of Deceased Teenager Warns Against Trend

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The latest social media craze dubbed the "Paracetamol Challenge" involves taking excessive doses of the painkiller as acceptance of the dare. A mother who had lost a daughter due to overdose issued an urgent warning over the trend.

The deadly trend was reportedly being spread across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, according to the UK Mirror. Teenagers accept the dare by consuming excessive amounts of the over-the-counter medicine.

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is a known pain reliever and is used to treat various conditions such as fever, colds, headaches, arthritis, backache, and toothache, according to Drugs.com.

An overdose of this medication can lead to serious health problems such as liver damage, brain damage and hemorrhage.

Police and schools have warned parents about this social media challenge and have asked them to keep an eye on their children. The game has reportedly landed an Ayrshire, Scotland teen in a hospital.

Alan Ward of East Ayrshire Council has sent letters to parents and youngsters after Scotland Police was notified of the teen who was hospitalized after participating in the "game."

"The challenge results in young people daring each other, through Instagram and Facebook, to take excessive amounts of paracetamol and this is a matter of great concern.

"Our schools have been highlighting the dangers to our young people and our campus cops in particular have had a key role to play in liaising with children and young people on this matter.

"We are urging parents to talk to their children about the potential dangers of taking paracetamol and to discourage their children from engaging in any online activity in support of this dangerous craze," he told the Scotsman.

Charlotte Yousaf, 19, from Leeds, England, died in 2011 after overdosing on paracetamol. Mrs. Yousaf, 48, told Mirror Online: "She had fallen out with her boyfriend and it must have been a plea for attention, clearly not realising how serious taking the pills was."

Charlotte reportedly took an excessive amount of pills, collapsed days later and was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She died the next day.

"Don't end up like my daughter did," Mrs. Yousaf said.

"Doctors said if Charlotte got to the hospital sooner she could have lived. She may have needed a transplant, but she could have lived," Mrs. Yousaf added.

She urged that the latest teen craze on social media could leave someone in mortal danger. She also said that teenagers, teachers and parents need to know the dangers of overdosing on paracetamol.