Common Medicine Found in Millions of Homes Now Being Abused by Teens, Data Shows

America’s youth have been increasingly abusing common over-the-counter medications, according to poison center records.

A health advisory from America’s Poison Centers, representing 53 poison centers across the country, alerted a “concerning rise” in cases of diphenhydramine abuse among teens ages 13 to 19.

Diphenhydramine is commonly found in allergy and sleep medications such as Benadryl and Zzzquil, as mentioned in the advisory.

From 2024 to 2025, the total exposure to any substance among teens in this age group reportedly increased by 5.1%.

But cases involving diphenhydramine alone increased more rapidly, from 10,068 to 13,284 cases, a 32% spike. (Read more from “Common Medicine Found in Millions of Homes Now Being Abused by Teens, Data Shows” HERE)