Teen harms came far more often with suspected suicide than misuse
Across 47,644 ingestions by 13 to 19 year olds over fourteen years, seizures, comas and deaths were markedly more common in suspected suicide than in misuse.
What the study found
Serious teen harms came more often after suspected suicide than misuse
Across 47,644 diphenhydramine ingestions by 13 to 19 year olds over fourteen years, cardiac complications, seizures, comas and deaths were markedly more common in suspected suicide than in misuse or abuse. A 2020 US regulator's warning had targeted the misuse.
The caveat · Intent coded during a phone call
The authors do not say the misuse is harmless, only that the self-harm cases carried the worse outcomes. Intent is coded by whoever takes the phone call, and the line between misuse and a suicide attempt is drawn there. The warning itself would have lifted reporting.
What we don't know
The authors do not say the misuse is harmless, only that the self-harm cases carried the worse outcomes. Intent is coded by whoever takes the phone call, and the line between misuse and a suicide attempt is drawn there. The warning itself would have lifted reporting.