Negative effects of energy drinks on children gain national attention

By Staff Writer

A school district in New York recently added energy drinks to its list of banned substances in school.

According to The Daily Mail, the district has banned the highly caffeinated beverages because officials believe they are not appropriate in an educational environment. Other substances added to the list were certain supplements such as damiana, which is sometimes used recreationally because of its relaxing effect on the central nervous system.

LifeSpan.org reports that children are at risk of becoming dependent on energy drinks in their efforts to remain alert throughout the day. Teenagers who consume too much caffeine are at a greater risk of experiencing irritability, sleep disruption and heart arrhythmias. Energy drinks that are combined with other drugs or stimulants can cause cardiovascular complications.

A doctor at a pediatric sleep disorder center said that caffeine is a psychoactive drug and it has no nutritional value for children.

Energy drinks that contain alcohol have also become popular among teens. News affiliate FOX12 reports that nine underage college students in Washington state were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko, which contains high levels of caffeine and alcohol.

The Oregon Partnership has requested that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban the alcoholic energy drinks nationally.