ULS Santa Maria has reported a significant rise in voluntary medication overdoses among young people, with over half of the 232 cases recorded in the past six years occurring in 2024 and 2025. The increase has raised concerns about the 'paracetamol challenge' circulating on social media, which encourages high doses of the drug. Many overdoses involve medications readily available at home, and the majority of cases are impulsive rather than premeditated. The hospital emphasizes the need for parental vigilance and better management of medications, particularly psychotropic drugs, to address this growing mental health crisis among adolescents.