“Wide-Awake Drunk” Saying “No” The Dangers of Mixing Energy Drinks and Alcohol It’s never easy to say no, especially if you’re in a situation where You probably already know that it’s dangerous – and illegal – everyone else is doing something. Your parents and teachers tell for teens to drink alcohol. But, you may not know that mixing you to “just say no” – is it really that simple? alcohol and energy drinks can be even more hazardous to your health than alcohol alone. It can be. You really can say “no” and leave it at that – you don’t owe any explanations. If your friends can’t accept that, are they Why? It’s all about chemistry. really your friends? There are lots of ways to say no to alcohol and combinations: Alcohol is a depressant. When you drink alcohol, your whole body . . . slows . . . down. Your heart rate drops, your reflexes • “That stuff can kill you! I’m not doing that!” aren’t as sharp, and your thinking and judgment are impaired. • “My parents will ground me for life if they find out – Often, after a person consumes several alcoholic drinks, they it’s not worth the risk.” start to feel sleepy or worn out. That’s your body’s way of saying • “No thanks. Not interested.” you’ve had too much to drink. • “Sorry. I’m driving tonight” -loaded energy drinks, on the other hand, are stimulants. Stimulants have the opposite effect on your system: Your heart rate spikes, you feel jittery, buzzed, and hyper-alert. If you’ve ever had a little too much coffee or soda, you’ve probably felt the effects that too much caffeine can have on your body and mind.

A Deadly Mix When you combine the slowed-down effects of a depressant with the hyperactive jolt of a stimulant, you’re faking out your body – and your mind. You’re not sober – far from it – but you feel awake. Your reaction time and coordination are impaired because of the alcohol; however, the amped-up effects of the energy drink make you feel completely alert.

This feeling is called “wide-awake drunk,” and it can be deadly: Because they don’t know that they are intoxicated, people who mix alcohol and energy drinks can make poor decisions and engage in risky behavior, including:

• Drunk driving • Unprotected sex • Binge drinking Dead Asleep © 2008 PRIMO PROMOTIONS, LLC | 450 Rosenwald St. Reserve, LA 70084 • Drug use 985-287-2175 | www.primopromollc.com | PPL-SA-01 Before You Know It! Alcohol and Caffeine Common Names for True or Just, Plain Bull: – A Knock Out Combo Alcohol/Energy Drink – Do You Know the Facts?

We all know that alcohol has short-term effects on your brain: Combinations Think you know the straight facts about alcohol/energy drink combinations? Take this quick True or False quiz and find out. drowsiness, slurred words, blurred vision, and inability to Sometimes, mixtures of alcohol and energy drinks are called think straight. But what you may not know is that drinking “speedballs” or “AEDs.” Certain types of alcohol/energy drink alcohol can have serious long-term effects on your brain, combinations have specific names, including a “Bull Blaster,” including: 1. Mixing an energy drink with alcohol allows you to drink a “Bull-garita,” or a “Jäger Bomb.” without getting drunk. • Permanent memory loss Here’s something else you may not know: According to their True False • Brain shrinkage labels, some new drinks – like Sparks™, ™, and 21™ • Reduced learning and reasoning abilities – have alcohol and caffeine packaged together. The kicker? • Damage to dendrites – the nerve cells that let your These drinks look a lot like regular, non-alcoholic energy drinks. 2. If I don’t feel drunk, it’s probably safe to drive a car. brain cells talk to each other If you don’t look closely, you might end up drinking alcohol without knowing it! True False Although you may not realize it, caffeine is also a drug. And, just like any other drug, it can have some pretty serious side effects: 3. Drinking an alcohol/energy drink mixture is safer than just drinking alcohol. • Insomnia • Tremors True False • Nausea • Sweating • Vomiting and diarrhea 4. You can overdose on caffeine.

So when you combine alcohol and caffeine, you are giving True False your body a one-two knock out combination that can be seriously damaging. 5. It’s okay to mix alcohol and energy drinks if I’m not driving.

True False

fatal to drink an alcohol/energy drink mixture. mixture. drink alcohol/energy an drink to fatal

False. Even if you don’t plan on getting behind the wheel, it could be be could it wheel, the behind getting on plan don’t you if Even  A Lethal Combination 5.

For honor student Ashley Ramnauth, it was just another Friday damage. brain and

night. After saying goodbye to her parents, the 16-year-old palpitations, heart pains, chest including problems, serious pretty some

Florida honors student hopped into a car with friends and cause can caffeine on Overdosing involved. are drinks energy when ly

True. - especial – caffeine on overdose to possible entirely It’s Surprised? 

headed to a party. 4.

alcohol/energy drink mixture is actually more dangerous. dangerous. more actually is mixture drink alcohol/energy

False. Because you’re mixing a stimulant with a depressant, drinking an an drinking depressant, a with stimulant a mixing you’re Because 

Several hours later, Ashley returned home and passed out. When Guess 3.

they were unable to wake her, Ashley’s family called 911 – but it fine. feel you if even task, complex other

False. If you’ve been drinking, it is never safe to drive a car or do any any do or car a drive to safe never is it drinking, been you’ve If  was too late. Ashley Ramnauth, who loved hanging out with her Which 2. friends and dreamed of becoming a lawyer someday – died at

Ones Have words. their slurring and around stumbling they’re if even alert, the hospital. and awake wide feel drinks energy and alcohol mix who People tions.

False. - combina drink alcohol/energy of part dangerous most the That’s  1. The cause? A fatal combination of alcohol and energy drinks. Alcohol? Answers: All brand or product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products and services of, their respective owners.