Abuse of Caffeinated Energy Drinks Among College Students. James Coon. Monmouth University

Transcription

1 Running head: ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 1 Abuse of Caffeinated Energy Drinks Among College Students James Coon Monmouth University

2 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 2 Abstract This paper examines the prevalence and abuse of energy drinks among college students, and how more awareness should be placed upon their consumption. Some of the primary reasons why college students indulge in energy drinks include: insufficient sleep, increased energy, and to simply enjoy with alcoholic beverages; however, more instances of caffeine intoxication, abuse and even deaths attributed to energy drink consumption have occurred due to the meteoric rise of energy drinks on the U.S. market. The demographics of the most frequent consumers of energy drinks among college students, and the rates of addiction and the influence of energy drinks on college students that increase the likelihood to abuse other drugs is discussed, as well as the factors that have compelled them to seek the psychoactive effects of the scores of energy drinks available to students. 2

3 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 3 Abuse of Caffeinated Energy Drinks Among College Students Caffeine consumption and specifically caffeinated energy drinks have been a study and party necessity among various college communities such as students, professors, administrators, etc. Anybody who has had to endure the rigors of collegiate life was once most likely helped somewhere along the way by a caffeine-laden study aid. However, it would appear that energy drinks, and not specifically naturally caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee, are more likely to be abused because of the appealing image that their marketing imparts to consumers; the exorbitant amount of caffeine the product contains which remains unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the alarming rise of their gratuitous consumption with alcoholic beverages at parties. Fairly recently, it has been tragically reported that energy drinks have allegedly played a significant role in thirteen deaths over the last four years (The New York Times, 2012), therefore, it is imperative that more awareness be focused upon energy drink abuse. Statement of Problem Energy drinks have been shown to boost heart rate, dehydrate the body, prevent sleep and lead to psychiatric problems such as panic and anxiety disorders (Attila & Banu, 2010). Some caffeinated energy drinks contain up to 505 mg of caffeine per bottle in comparison to a typical cup of eight-ounce coffee which only contains around 50 to 150 mg of caffeine (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2008). Caffeine, unlike most other stimulants on the market, is not regulated as a result of a loophole created to circumvent the proposed labeling of caffeine as a drug by drink manufacturers who stated that caffeine is merely a flavor enhancer (Reissig, Strain, & 3

4 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 4 Griffiths, 2008). According to a study by Malinauskas, Aeby, Overton, Carpenter-Aeby and Heidal (2007), out of 496 college students surveyed, over 51% consume more than one energy drink per month and 73% drink multiple energy drinks with alcohol. Energy drinks blatantly marketed as Blow, Bong Water, and Cocaine have hit the market, encouraging a prodigious consumption of the drinks while touting their similarities to the outlawed narcotic that they are unmistakably alluding to. According to Reissig, Strain and Griffiths, (2008) caffeinated beverages have some of the most lax regulatory requirements in the U.S., while the U.S. is ironically the greatest consumer of energy drinks in the world. College students who are frequent energy drink users are also more likely to consume or have consumed other drugs and have heavier alcohol consumption patterns (Arria, Caldeira, & Kasperski, 2010). The likelihood of experimentation or abuse of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription drug use positively correlates with frequent energy drink use. Much of this is also associated with the Toxic Jock identity (Miller, 2008), which postulates that energy drinks are a clear predictor of careless behavior revolving around hyper masculinity and risk taking. Finally, most college students (around two-thirds) are not even aware of the ingredients in energy drinks and their potential deleterious effects on the body if used abundantly (Attila & Cakir, 2010). Literature Review Reasons for Consumption Malinauskas et al. (2007) postulated that there are six different situations that warrant the use of energy drinks among college students: insufficient sleep, to increase energy, studying for an exam, driving a car for an extended period of time, drinking with alcohol and to treat a 4

5 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 5 hangover. The most common impetus for energy drink consumption was insufficient sleep (67%), followed by the need for more energy (65%) and to imbibe at parties with alcohol (54%). College students who imbibe energy drinks on a consistent basis are increasingly using such drinks for recreational purposes (e.g., consuming three or more with alcohol at parties) and are the types of personalities that would most likely fit into the category of those who have higher levels of sensation seeking. (Arria et al., 2010). Although incessantly used for academic performance, Pettit and Debarr (2011) ironically determined that energy drink consumption and resulting academic performance were negatively correlated, resulting in less-than-stellar academic records and greater attrition rates. Health and Behavior Risks Caffeine in energy drinks can ultimately lead to dehydration of the body, increased mean arterial blood pressure, heart palpitations and chronic daily headaches (Malinauskas et al. 2007; Anitei, Schuhfried, & Chraif, 2011). Additionally, energy drinks affect normal sleep patterns (insomnia) and can cause caffeine intoxication, i.e., vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, tachycardia, and anxiety/panic disorders. (Reissig et al., 2008). The prodigious amounts of sugar and caffeine, unlike other ingredients in energy drinks such as guarana, taurine, and ginseng which are present in much lower doses, are able to provide psychoactive effects and along with the aforementioned health risks can cause obesity (Attila & Cakir, 2010). Studies have also determined that energy drink consumption affects mental processes negatively, in that confusions in perceptual accuracy manifest (Anitei et al.) along with altered decision time. Furthermore, an increased use of alcohol --73% of energy drink users consume energy drinks with alcohol (Malinauskas et al. & Arria et al.) and other potentially dangerous psychotropic drugs such as tobacco and prescription pills, is related to energy drink consumption (Miller, 2008). Hyper 5

6 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 6 masculine, risk-taking behavior; that is, problem drinking, sexual risk taking, delinquency and interpersonal violence is associated with the Toxic jock identity who consumes energy drinks (Miller). According to the CDC, problem drinking or binge drinking is when men consume five or more drinks within two hours, and women consume four or more during the same time span (Center for Disease Control, 2012). Miller describes the toxic jock identity as a sportrelated identity predicated on risk-taking and hypermasculinity, (Miller). Therefore, a student who fits the profile of a toxic jock is more likely to partake in delinquent activity, such as vandalism, chicanery, extreme hazing of fellow students, narcotic distribution and consumption, etc. User Demographics Energy drink consumers tend to be white males (Miller, 2008; Reissig et al., 2009), have a greater involvement in sports (Attila et al., 2010), and consume alcohol more frequently than non-users (Reissig et al., 2009). According to Miller, men were 1.5 times more likely than women to consume energy drinks, and having no health insurance also positively correlated with constant energy drink use. Finally, freshmen and sophomores tend to consume a lower number of energy drinks than juniors or seniors (Petit & Debarr, 2011), where one-quarter of second-year students reported to having used energy drinks which then increased to one-third during their junior year. (Arria et al.). Prevention Proper labeling must be implemented on energy drink cans and bottles. Although the U.S. is the largest consumer of energy drinks, the U.S. still has the most lax regulations concerning these drinks (Reissig et al., 2008). Caffeinated beverages should be subject to the same scrutiny 6

7 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 7 in product labeling as over-the-counter stimulant products, which are required to post the recommended dose, the amount of the drug that the product contains, side effects, etc. Reissig et al. also highlights a glaring inconsistency in that over-the-counter products such as NoDoz must include the aforementioned warnings, and a 500 mg energy drink can be sold with no such warnings or information on how much caffeine is actually in the product. More awareness must be created, as most college students do not even know what they are drinking (Attila, 2011). It is imperative that health educators and schools teach the parents of incoming college students, along with the college students themselves, the dangers of energy drinks and enlighten them to healthy alternatives and what a moderate consumption of such drinks entails. Attila determined that almost none of the college students that were studied learned about the deleterious effects of energy drinks from their parents or family members. Caffeine itself is shown to be beneficial in many ways (Glade 2010), but a guide on how to moderately enjoy energy drinks, what the ingredients actually are, and the physical and psychiatric effects should be disseminated to the students so they know that these drinks are not as innocuous as they once believed. Implications The common theme of many of the studies presented is a lack of knowledge disseminated upon college students who consume caffeinated energy drinks. As Reissig et al. (2008) stated, adequate proper labeling is a simple step that needs to be taken in order to facilitate this necessary awareness. Caffeine still enjoys a harmless status to most consumers as a result of caffeinated- drink manufacturer s tireless efforts in the early 1980s to label caffeine as a flavor enhancer rather than a drug (Reissig et al.). In general, caffeine that occurs naturally in certain drinks such as tea and coffee provides many of the beneficial effects that the consumer is seeking: increased energy, decreased fatigue, enhanced physical performance, etc. (Glade, 2010), 7

8 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 8 however, a typical cup of coffee varies from 50 mg to 150 mg of caffeine, whereas energy drinks can contain as much as 505 mg of caffeine an egregious disparity. Data suggests that frequent energy drink consumption is basically unhealthy, potentially leading to acute caffeine intoxication (e.g., high arterial blood pressure, panic/anxiety, gastrointestinal problems) and confused perceptual accuracy (Anitei, 2011). The rate of college students ingesting energy drinks with alcohol and other drugs correlate positively (Attila, 2010; Arria, 2010). Toxic jock behavior, or risk-taking behavior revolving around hyper masculinity also commonly manifests among frequent consumers of energy drinks (Miller, 2008). Programs that educate students and parents to heighten their awareness of the potential hazards of sugary, caffeine-laden energy drinks are yet to be established. Reflection Caffeinated energy drinks must be taken as seriously as other over-the-counter stimulants. With the inception of energy drinks containing alcohol in the last 6 years (such as 4Loco) and their subsequent banning from the market, strides are finally being taken in considering such caffeinated energy drinks to qualify as psychotropic drugs and potentially as dangerous as other over-the-counter stimulants. According to Arria et al 2011 and most if not all scientists mentioned in this paper, there needs to be more studies into the negative effects of energy drinks, specifically concerning arterial blood pressure, anxiety, and heart palpitations. In 2006 alone, 500 new brands of energy drinks were introduced to the market (Reissig et al., 2008), and from 2002 to 2006 energy drinks sales went up an astronomical 55%. Blatant ad campaigns targeting thrill-seeking toxic jock personas abound with products shamelessly named Cocaine, Blow, and Bong Water, which are marketed as the legal alternative (Malinauskas et al., 2007). Red Bull even spends a third of its annual marketing expenditures to 8

9 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 9 sponsor sports (Miller, 2008), and it is the opinion of the author that this shameful marketing should cease. While caffeine and academe have had a very symbiotic relationship over the past few centuries The Chronicle reported one professor ingesting 33 cups of coffee a day as a normal day (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2004), information regarding the abuse of these products is still unavailable to parents and schools. Conclusion Caffeinated energy drinks, unlike tea and coffee, are typically geared towards college students; specifically, sensation-seeking, stressed-out students who supposedly need a quick pick-me-up without the hassle of having to do it naturally by eating and drinking well as well as getting enough sleep. These students tend to be white males involved in sports in some facet, and are more often juniors and seniors. Studies indicate that significant health risks are posed when such drinks are consumed frequently, but almost no awareness is generated around the potential harm that they can cause. Increased consumption of alcoholic beverages as well as other psychotropic drugs correlates positively with the consistent use of energy drinks (Malinauskas, 2011), causing great concern among college communities. Preventative steps need to be implemented to generate awareness around energy drink abuse. If only a third of the students studied by Attila (2010) were aware of the ingredients in energy drinks and practically none had learned about them from parents or family members, specific programs need to be created to truly convey the dangers of energy drink abuse. In recent news, it has been tragically reported that energy drinks have played a significant role in thirteen deaths over the last four years (The New York Times, 2012). This is clearly an indicator that 9

10 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 10 more awareness must be circulated around the dangers of these drinks. If we could simply start by labeling the amount of caffeine in such drinks accompanied by warnings of potential health hazards, then we could begin to acknowledge the glaring falsehood that energy drinks are harmless and should be dismissed as such. Finally, the shameless product labeling and marketing should be altered, in that caffeinated energy drinks should not be glamorized, compared to or have the same names as real illicit drugs. The public must stop viewing energy drinks as innocuous it is time to begin perceiving these drinks as harmful, and naming drinks Cocaine and Blow must cease. 10

11 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 11 References Anitei, M., Schuhfried, G., & Chraif, M., (2011). The influence of energy drinks and caffeine on time reaction and cognitive processes in young Romanian students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 30, Arria, A. M., Caldeira K. M., Kasperski, S. J., O Grady, K. E., Vincent, K. B., Griffiths, R. R., Wish. E. D. (2010). Increased alcohol consumption, nonmedical prescription use, and illicit drug use are associated with energy drink consumption among college students. Journal of Addicion. Medicine 4(2), Attila, S., Cakir, B., (2011). Energy drink consumption in college students and associated factors. Nutrition, 27, Glade, M. J. (2010). Caffeine Not just a stimulant. Nutrition, 26 (10), Malinauskas, B. M., Aeby V. G., Overton, R. F., Carpenter-Aeby, T., Barber-Heidal, K., (2007). A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students. Nutrition Journal, 6(35), Miller, K. E. (2008). Energy drinks, Race, and Problem Behaviors Among College Students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, Miller, K. E. (2008). Wired: Energy Drinks, Jock Identity, Masculine Norms, and Risk Taking. Journal of American College Health, 56(5), Pettit, M.L., Debarr, K.A., (2011). Perceived Stress, Energy Drink Consumption, and Academic Performance Among College Students. Journal of American College Health, 56(5),

12 ABUSE OF CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS 12 Reissig, C. J., Strain, E. C., Griffiths, R. R., (2009). Caffeinated energy drinks A growing problem. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 99, (31), A6. Glenn, David. (2004). The Buzz in Higher Education. The Chronicle of Higher Education Times, B1. Meier, Barry. (2012). Caffeinated Drink Cited in Reports of 13 Deaths. The New York 12

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