Social media has spawned its fair share of ridiculous trends. Some, are nothing more than good harmless fun — while others can be flat-out dangerous.
A new trend that is quickly gaining speed on TikTok involves marinating raw chicken in Nyquil cough medicine. Now, doctors are coming out of the woodwork to warn parents and children about its potentially dangerous adverse effects.
According to a recent survey conducted by Forrester, TikTok is the most popular app among American youths. A whopping 63% of Gen Z users reported that they use the app on a daily basis, compared to 57% who use Instagram.
When it comes to the overall entertainment value, users feel that TikTok is in a league of its own. The short-form video format is a welcomed distraction from the hustle of daily life, and kids like how it emphasizes positive self-expression.
Over the years, TikTok has given birth to several dangerous trends. These include licking public toilet seats, something called the "Skullbreaker Challenge," overdosing on Benadryl, and lighting yourself on fire.
NyQuil Chicken or "Sleepy Chicken" involves marinating raw chicken breast in NyQuil cough syrup. Afterward, the chicken is cooked in a hot pan and served for consumption.
The picture on the right shows raw chicken breast soaking in a solution of nighttime cough syrup. As you can see, the chicken retains its putrid green color, even after it's cooked.
The most popular video was posted on September 4th, 2020. Judging from the fact that the user claims to use 4/3 of the bottle, and is turning the chicken breast with a hair straightener — this was a poor attempt at satire.
In January of 2022, NyQuil Chicken once again began trending on TikTok. Most users have just been posting videos of their reaction to the recipe, but there have been a few instances where young users have recreated it themselves.
As you can see, Jimmy decided to add a few of his own steps to the already established recipe. He also made sure to note that "Sleepy Chicken" already exists — it's called "turkey."
Richmond-based physician Aaron Hartman explains “By cooking a medicine with multiple drugs in it on a stovetop, you’ve aerosolized it and are most likely inhaling it.”
Bypassing your body's natural detoxification process can have detrimental effects on your overall health, depending on how much a person happens to inhale.
Talk to your children about the potential dangers of following these types of trends. Make them aware that anyone who would be so stupid as to soak their food in cough syrup is not the kind of person that they should be idolizing.
