TikTok challenge in Mexico leads to several children being hospitalized after using controlled drugs

Although clonazepam is used to treat seizures and requires a prescription to sell, at least 15 elementary school students in Mexico, they got poisoned by taking this medicine, all because of an internet problem.

“The students are believed to have ingested the medicine as part of a challenge that has gone viral on social media,” the authorities explained.

Since January 25 last year, the Mexican government has been warning young people about the risk of a challenge that went viral on the TikTok platform.

The game called “The last one to fall asleep wins” involves the use of controlled drugs that cause drowsiness. and try to hang in tension as long as possible.

“Incorrect consumption without medical supervision and irresponsibility of drugs with anxiolytic properties, such as clonazepam, has side effects that range from drowsiness, dizziness and nausea to loss of balance, problems with coordination, headache, muscle or joint pain,” he said. .

It should be noted that this drug is prescribed for adults and children who have seizures. It is also used to treat anxiety, sleep problems, and panic attacks, so its use is supervised and strictly on prescription.

However, over the Internet the black market opens up the possibility of secretly buying this drug, the origin of which is unknown, illegal and with side effects in those who consume it, such as loss of balance, dizziness and shortness of breath.

In addition, clonazepam can be addictive, so it is recommended to take only the amount prescribed by doctors and for the specified time.

Despite warnings, the phenomenon has grown alarmingly in Mexico. In January alone, there were more than twenty cases of young people getting drunk while implementing this challenge, which went viral on TikTok.

Mexican authorities identified about 500 incidents involving minors in 2022 related to this type of challenge.