New studies suggest need for regulation on energy drinks

There is a serial killer roaming the streets, silently killing the adolescent population. Why haven’t they been arrested yet? It’s because the culprit is not human, but something that children and teens ingest on a daily basis, energy drinks.

As reported by cnn.com, an estimated 40 percent of calls to poison centers in 2014 are caused by what is called “energy drink exposure.” In most cases, children experience serious side effects, such as abnormal heartbeats and seizures.

New studies are being implemented to see just how severely energy drinks affect the adolescent human body, and will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.

Senior Gabby Karr says, “It’s kind of scary that people could die from drinking energy drinks because they seem harmless.”

Study author and professor at Wayne State University, Dr. Steven Lipshultz has found that children can experience side effects after drinking only 100mg of caffeine, a mere third of what is found in energy drinks. The reasoning behind these new tests is to push for stricter regulations on what should be allowed to be put in energy drinks.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not have a standard measure of caffeine considered safe for children to ingest.

Freshman Kelly Tidey said, “I don’t drink energy drinks because they’re unhealthy and I don’t need any extra energy.”

Health teacher Jacqueline Williams agrees that energy drinks are not a healthy way for teens to start their day. Instead, she believes that getting a good night’s sleep and eating right can give the body just as much energy as ingesting caffeine.

“You should also try to avoid any source of caffeine late at night because that will keep you from sleeping,” said Williams.

Williams believes that young people are still unaware of the side effects of caffeine exposure due to the fact that it is currently illegal to test on adolescents.
However, senior Seth Miller is an advocate for energy drinks, as he has never experienced any side effects from them. “I just drink them because I like the way they taste,” said Miller. “They have never made me feel any different.”