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Abuse of Caffeinated Energy Drinks Among College Students

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