Energy Drinks Linked to 
Drug Addiction

College is known for a couple things, not the least of which is the long hours of study and the need for coffee or some other pick me up to get through it. Shockingly, energy drinks, one of the most common helpers of exhausted college students, has been associated with illicit drug use.

A new study from the University of Maryland tracked students over a 5-year period. The study had 1,060 students self-report their consumption of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, including heroin abuse and cocaine.

What they found was a little bit surprising. Regular users of energy drinks or those who increased their use were found to have higher rates of both cocaine use and abuse of prescription stimulants. The study also found this held true regardless of the frequency or amount someone drank.

The study was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"Energy drink use has a unique relationship with the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and analgesics. More research is needed regarding the health risks associated with energy drink use in young adults, including their possible role in the development of substance use problems." —Journal of Addiction Medicine

This is something for parents to keep in mind before allowing their kids to start on the path to of consuming energy drinks. Hopefully, it will also cause college students to consider their caffeine intake and the slippery slope of solving problems by turning to drug use.

Keep in mind, both cocaine and prescription stimulants, when abused are known to be addictive. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, call us today.