Jacob Stevens: Family shares heartbreaking photo of teen who died attempting viral TikTok challenge
COLUMBUS, OHIO: Jacob Stevens, a 13-year-old boy from Columbus, Ohio, died recently after attempting a viral TikTok challenge of taking 12 to 14 over-the-counter medications at once to create a hallucination. Following his death, Stevens' family shared a heartbreaking photo of the teen on a ventilator as a visual warning of the potential risks of social media challenges. In the photo, Stevens can be seen lying on a hospital bed with his eyes closed and wrapped in a blanket.
He is also seen attached to numerous IVs and a ventilation machine for assisted breathing. The 13-year-old reportedly had a severe reaction after attempting the challenge and remained on a ventilator for six days before succumbing to his condition, his family told ABC 6. The teen’s grandmother, Dianna Stevens, added that the heartbreaking photo was the first step in ensuring that another child does not go through a similar condition to her grandson. “I’m going to do anything I can to make sure another child doesn’t go through it,” she said.
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Jacob Stevens overdosed on Benadryl
Stevens’ father, Justin, opened up about the viral challenge that led to his son’s death while speaking to ABC6. He said the teen was at home with several friends while attempting the challenge. His friends even filmed him undertaking the challenge before his body started seizing as an effect of the pills. “When he did it all came at once and it was too much for his body,” Justin told the publication.
The pills Stevens consumed also contained Benadryl. Medical staff later told his family that the overdose of Benadryl claimed Stevens’ life. “No brain scan, there was nothing there. They said we could keep him on the vent that he could lay there but he will never open his eyes, he’ll never breathe, smile, walk, or talk,” Justin explained while speaking about his son’s condition while he was on ventilation.
In the wake of Steven’s death, his family is trying to request lawmakers to put an age restriction on buying medicines like Benadryl. “I already sent a message to Mr. Dewine. It's my life goal now to make that happen. I'll go at it until the day I die” Justin told the outlet. The grieving father also requested similar age restrictions for TikTok, including rules like the requirement to provide an ID for making an account on the platform.
‘Keep an eye on what they're doing’
In addition to seeking age restrictions on TikTok and for buying medicines like Benadryl, Stevens’ father also asked parents to monitor their child’s activity on social media and cell phone. “Keep an eye on what they're doing on that phone,” he said. “Talk to them about the situation I want everyone to know about my son,” he added while noting that he wants to raise awareness after his son’s tragic situation. The father also told the publication that Steven’s death was the “worst day of his life.”
He shared, “It didn’t matter how bad of a day I was having no one could make me smile, Jacob could make me smile.” He also mentioned that his son was a well-mannered, funny, and loving teen and said that the messages about his son from community members brought him to tears. “It made me feel really good to see the posts his peers put on Facebook about how he helped them,” Justin noted. Stevens’ funeral is reportedly set to take place next week, the outlet reported.
