Emergency Visits are Doubling Due to Energy Drink Consumption
In the past 5 years the government has estimated that number of visits to the emergency room from neon labeled energy drinks has more than doubled. During this time, the caffeine filled drink has become even more popular and is found in stores and bars across the country. The majority of the cases found by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration involved teens and young adults.
Some of the symptoms included insomnia, nervousness, headaches, fast heartbeats, and seizures. Forty two percent of the cases involved energy drinks combined with alcohol or drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin. Howard Mell from the American College of Emergency Physicians shared how people do not realize the power of these drinks. He mentioned that three energy drinks is the equivalent to 15 cups of coffee.
Last fall there were reports of 18 deaths due to energy drinks. The industry holds to their drinks being safe and that there are no links to the affects it has had on young adolescents even though there are an estimated 20,000 cases for 2011 alone. The sales for these energy drinks rose over 15 percent in 2011. The majority of the time these drinks were marketed to sporting events that held younger audiences. Although there are no specific links yet, there are many hopeful that the Food and Drug Administration will demand that more information and safety is marketing with the drink.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Emergency Room Visits After Energy Drink on Rise” Garance Burke, January 16, 2013.