- Viral challenges that involve the consumption of drugs are usually aimed at young people and put their physical and emotional health at risk.
- To prevent minors from becoming involved in these dynamics, an education is necessary that goes from that received at home, communication with parents or guardians and that, if the latter consume medications, they inform their relatives about its effects.
- Specialists recommend psychiatric or psychological treatment for minors involved in these dynamics.
In recent times, various viral challenges through the internet that promote the use of medicines. Children and adolescents are the most susceptible to falling into this type of dynamics that seem innocent but in the end are quite dangerous. Even tragic cases have already been reported and therefore new preventive actions must be taken.
In this regard, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) called on the population to promote comprehensive education and communication with minors to take care of the physical and mental health of those who participate in challenges that have arisen on social networks. He gave an example of “the one who falls asleep last wins” where the use of clonazepam is involved.
Óscar Bernardo Segura Satos, psychiatrist attached to the Outpatient Clinic of the Regional Psychiatric Hospital “Dr. Héctor Tovar Acosta”, pointed out that the Internet viral challenges where drugs such as clonazepam are used are social phenomena that are generally aimed at the young population.
“The social phenomenon occurs in this case at the moments in which the adolescent is in that stage of individuation and then he needs to be accepted and also needs to be recognized within a specific social group. This obviously generates a feeling of security and a sense of belonging.”
He added that comprehensive education ranges from that received at home, communication with parents, and that people who take some kind of medication prescribed by a doctorknow and inform the members of your family nucleus about the therapeutic side effects or for those who get to ingest it without needing it.
“This information must finally be shared at home and the medicine must be protected. All types of medication must have a specific place and not accessible to minors, only for the people who are going to supervise it or who are finally going to administer it as well, it is something basic inside the home”.
The IMSS psychiatrist said that within school education one must know about family and social dynamics regarding people who have a condition. The objective is to know that the medicine is specifically for the person who has a certain disease and that it should not be taken without indication or supervision.
“The IMSS invitation is directly focused on education and supervision. What about the educational part? Adults also continue to train and then we must be supervisors. We must help minors when they are going to have access to a device that could give them the opportunity to access any of the social networks”.
externalized that social networks have specifications according to the content by age range. In addition, parents, guardians and teachers must also be aware of the content and searches carried out by minors.
“The viral challenges such as taking that recklessness and that challenge of passing or taking the risk, be it physical or emotional. We must be very aware that minors have direct access to the content they need and the supervision is precisely to stop and guide if it comes to this challenge to be viewed. Explain what the risks are when getting involved.”
Consequences of consuming Clonazepam unnecessarily
Segura Santos explained that this type of risky activity, in addition to having a direct physical impact, can have emotional repercussions and even compromise life, whether due to a complication caused by the consumption of a medication such as clonazepam, hospitalization or a psychiatric emergency. .
“Clonazepam is a psychotropic medication, so it directly influences the central nervous system and this is going to give us a change in behavior, it could be a psychiatric emergency since there may be sedation, disorientation or excitement if there is a paradoxical phenomenon precisely with the use of specific clonazepam”.
The specialist pointed out that the treatment of these cases must be comprehensive. Once the physical complication has been resolved in a general hospital, it is advisable to refer the patient to a psychiatric area (paidopsychiatry) for follow-up, psychoeducational care for parents. It should also be evaluated if it is necessary to strengthen a pharmacological scheme and even a family therapy.
He recalled that the IMSS offers psychiatric, psychotherapeutic care and psychoeducation to follow up on those who have had some physical or emotional affectation due to the use of drugs without a medical prescription. The objective is to rehabilitate their social and family dynamics, in order to avoid greater risks in the future, such as the use of other types of substances.
Also read:
TikTok is sued for its responsibility in deaths from viral challenges
The Most Dangerous Health Challenges on TikTok: From Sleepy Chicken to the Benadryl Challenge
Cofepris publishes an alert for the Clonazepam Challenge: “It is so serious that it can cause a coma”
