A MUM is warning parents about the dangers of paracetamol after her 15-year-old daughter passed away from an overdose, urging them to take urgent action.
Alice Clark is believed to have taken a fatal amount of tablets over two days as she secretly struggled with mental health issues triggered by exam pressures and “nasty” TikTok messages from school friends.
Although the teen confessed to her peers that she’d taken a number of pills, none of them told an adult about it.
The GCSE student began being sick and was unable to talk properly, prompting her mum Joanne to call 999.
Alice was rushed to hospital, put in an induced coma but died three days after she started taking the tablets due to acute liver failure that led to cardiac arrest.
After her death her devastated mum found a diary that revealed Alice’s struggles, while police went through her phone.
TikTok messages from Alice showed she took several paracetamol tablets in one go on the evening of December 10 last year and had more the following day.
Now Joanne, 43, from West Parley, near Bournemouth, Dorset, wants to raise awareness around the dangers of the over-the-counter painkiller and is campaigning for paracetamol to be made prescription only.
She’s urging other parents to keep medication locked away.
Joanne, a project manager, said: “One box of paracetamol is enough to kill you, but you can go into a shop and buy two.
“I know all medicine could be dangerous if in the wrong hands, but with paracetamol, the numbers are incredible for how many people are admitted every year for it.
“It shouldn’t be something that’s 30p, with a 16 age bracket and on the bottom shelf where a toddler can pick it up.
“You should have to go to the chemist to get them, they should be something you need a prescription for.
“I want to raise awareness and talk about Alice’s story openly.
“If I can help save one child, then that’s one parent that doesn’t have to live this horrific time that I’m having to.”
BNPSAlice had been struggling with her mental health and took a fatal amount of tablets over two days[/caption] BNPSJoanne Garcia-Dias warned parents to keep paracetamol locked away[/caption]Most people over the age of 16 can take paracetamol and the drug is available without prescription, though there is an age restriction for buying.
Adults can take a maximum of eight 500mg tablets in 24 hours, waiting at least four hours between each dose.
Though taking one or two extra tablets is unlikely to harm you, having too much paracetamol can be dangerous and require treatment, as it can cause liver damage.
Paracetamol overdose can lead to liver failure in just a few days, which can be fatal.
Red flag symptoms of a paracetamol overdose
Paracetamol overdoses can be deliberate or happen by accident.
Many medicines contain paracetamol, including a lot of cold and flu medicines that you can buy from a pharmacy, so it is possible to accidentally take too much paracetamol by taking different medicines together.
If you think you have taken too much paracetamol, get help straight away.
Do not wait to see if you get symptoms.
The symptoms of acute liver failure caused by a paracetamol overdose include:
A yellow colour to your eyes or skin (jaundice) Low blood sugar Sweating Trembling Being irritable Being more clumsy or less co-ordinated than usual Feeling sick Being sick Feeling very tired Pain in your tummySource: British Liver Trust
There were 261 deaths in 2022 from paracetamol overdose in England and Wales.
The NHS recommends you can contact 111 for advice if you take too much of the painkiller – even if you don’t feel unwell.
Meanwhile, the British Liver Trust says you should go to hospital straight away.
‘Not a drug to play games with’
Joanne said her daughter’s mental health struggles “escalated quickly”.
“Alice was the girl in the room with the biggest smile and the loudest laugh,” she recalled.
“She had the most beautiful heart and soul.
“She never appeared in a dark place, it all escalated so quickly, this came as the most horrendous shock to us.
“Alice appears to have struggled silently with mental health, keeping a diary where she talks to herself about how she’s feeling.
“There’s so many pressures now for teenagers. I don’t think she understood what that could do.
“I want everyone to know how dangerous paracetamol is, how our medicine cupboards should be locked, even if parents think they have the most sensible children.
“We believed Alice was one of these children.
“Parents should get a lock box and make sure children have to come to them to ask for medication.
“And for children to know this isn’t a drug to play games with.
“I also want to raise awareness of the importance of speaking up, even if that feels like you are betraying someone’s trust.
“If caught early they would have been able to pump her stomach and they can give medicine that reverses the effects within 24 hours.”
To follow Joanne’s campaign on Instagram go to @noble_amc.
If people need help with mental wellbeing, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go online at samaritans.org.
Signs your child is struggling with their mental health
Many children and teens will experience behavioural or emotional problems at some stage.
For some, these will resolve with time, while others will need professional support.
It might be difficult to know if there is something upsetting your child, but there are ways to spot when something’s wrong.
Look out for:
Significant changes in behaviour Ongoing difficulty sleeping Withdrawing from social situations Not wanting to do things they usually like Self-harm or neglecting themselvesYou know your child better than anyone, so if you’re worried, first think if there has been a significant change in their behaviour.
If there has, is it caused by any specific events or changes in their life? Does it only happen at home, school or college, or when they’re with others or alone?
Here are some resources to help if you’re worried or unsure:
The NHS offers advice on Mental health support for children and young people. Action for Children helps children and families look after their mental health with simple tools and support to feel better and cope with challenges. The Childhood Bereavement Network offers guidance on supporting a child through grief. Visit NHS – Advice for parents for support if you think your child may have an eating disorder. The Young Minds Parents Helpline offers parents free and confidential advice via phone, email, or webchat. Teachers, school nurses, social workers, and GPs can help you find the right support. If have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline to talk to dedicated child protection specialists. They will be able to advise and take any necessary action. The Helpline is open 7 days a week, and can be contacted by: Visiting the website Emailing [email protected] or Calling 0808 800 5000.Source: NHS
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