Energy Drinks Can Lead to Mental Health Problems

Daily Mail
March 9, 2014

Energy drinks can lead to mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers, researchers have warned.

Their findings have been published just a day after it emerged a teenager’s heart stopped three times after downing 10 Jagerbombs mixed with Red Bull.

Jayde Dinsdale, 18, was drinking the Jagermeister spirit and energy drink shooter, which cost £2.20 for two, on a night out with friends, in Yeovil, Somerset.

But as the alcohol wore off, the high levels of caffeine in her system took control of her heart rate – causing it to accelerate dangerously out of control, medics have since said.

She suffered three heart attacks and temporarily ‘died’ on her bathroom floor after she downed ten high-caffeine Jagerbombs on a ‘two-for-one’ promotion night.

The new research, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, found that students prone to depression – and those who smoke marijuana or drink alcohol – are more likely to consume energy drinks.

Among the 8,210 high school students surveyed, nearly two thirds reported using energy drinks at least once in the past year, with more than one in five consuming them once or more per month.

And worryingly, it was the younger high school students who were more likely to consume energy drinks than older ones.

Last month researchers at the University of Michigan reported that teenagers who drink energy drinks are much more likely to also drink alcohol and use drugs. They are also more likely to start smoking.

They suggested this could be because  teenagers who are ‘sensation-seekers’ or ‘risk orientated’ are more likely to drink energy drinks.

In turn, having these character traits means they are also more likely to experiment with other substances.

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