Recently, a report called for limiting the teenage children to get access to high-caffeine energy beverages as it was found that consumption of these drinks in larger quantity by high school children can be linked with substance use and mental health issues.
A study was conducted among 8200 high school children in the Atlantic Canada region by the researchers at the Dalhousie University and University of Waterloo and the result of the study showed that nearly two-thirds of the respondents were found to be consuming energy drinks. Nearly one-fifth of the students said that they drank the beverages at least for once or more every month.
Interesting fact:
The Principal Investigator Sunday Azagba, who is a researcher at the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the Waterloo University has said that he found an interesting fact from the study. The fact is that the more intense the users are, the more are the chances of being depressed, which can lead to teen depression. Also, they are more likely to have substance use, he added, referring to marijuana and alcohol.
Azagba has also added that even though the reason behind these associations are not clear, this trend is a concern as the rate of consumption of these beverages is increasing among teenagers. As these drinks, provide temporary benefits like physical energy, enhanced mental health, improve mood and increase alertness, young people are so much attracted to them.
Younger are more likely:
The study also found that younger teenage children are more likely to consume these energy beverages as compared to their older counterparts. Also, Azagba has added that the marketing strategies used by the manufacturers of these drinks are enthralling and motivating young minds to try them out.
Ill effects of energy drinks:
Azagba has added that energy drinks are dangerous for young kids, particularly for those at the risk of substance abuse. It is known to be associated with a wide range of health effects, including nausea, nervousness, sleep disorder and even cardiovascular symptoms too. As the drinks have a higher concentration of caffeine, these side-effects can occur. When caffeine consumption is increased along with the consumption of energy drinks, it can also bring about a negative effect on the behavior of teens and it can also lead to teen depression too. So, parents should consider it as a cause of concern.
Increase in the consumption of energy drinks:
As per a recent study, it is found that the number of teens consuming energy drinks is skyrocketing and in the US alone, sales are expected to reach around 20 billion dollars.
Steps to be taken:
Azagba has recommended that steps should be taken to limit the consumption of these drinks by teens. Also, a public awareness should be created about the potential harms associated with these drinks and also to minimize the level of caffeine in these units to protect the future generation from teen depression. Even though, these steps cannot eliminate the problem completely, it can at least bring an awareness among parents about the ill effects of these drinks so that they can prevent their children from too much consumption of these beverages.