Are Kids Being 'Poisoned' By Energy Drinks? This New Report Says Yes
What parents should know about unintentional exposure to high levels of caffeine in kids.Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottYou may have heard about the dangers of energy drinks for teens, such as PRIME, and those sold at Starbucks and Dunkin’. With reports of young people experiencing serious cardiac events after sipping the caffeine super-charged beverages, energy drink domination in the market can already be causing some concern for parents.Now, a new report reveals that energy drink-related calls to poison control centers increased over 24% between 2022 and 2023. According to 2023 data from America’s Poison Centers, they received 2,694 calls regarding exposures to energy drinks in people under the age of 20.The data also reveals kids between the ages of 6-12 had the largest increase in exposures to energy drinks—with most of them being unintentional. This means kids are unknowingly sipping a drink containing caffeine, or drinking too much.
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Why Energy Drinks Can Be Harmful to KidsWhile exposures do not always result in an overdose or poisoning, this data indicates many kids aren't aware of the harm energy drinks can cause them.As Kait Brown, PharmD, DABAT, Clinical Managing Director for America’s Poison Centers, tells Parents, “It can be challenging for youth to distinguish between drinks that contain caffeine and those that do not.”No matter the specifics of the label, according to Brown, “Energy drinks are not recommended for kids and teens due to the amount of sugar and caffeine they contain.” Also according to Brown, caffeine can be detrimental to young people both immediately, and over time. “Aside from the potential long-term health effects from drinking sugary-caffeinated beverages, caffeine can increase anxiety, irritability, and sleeplessness in kids and teens,” she says.Energy drinks are especially concerning since they contain far more caffeine than sodas and coffee on the market, adds Maryann Amirshahi, MD, PharmD, MPH, PhD, FACMT, FACEP, FASAM, FCP, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine and Co-Medical Director of the National Capital Poison Center.Sometimes, energy drinks will contain 10 times as much caffeine as a soft drink—and be well over the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended daily amount of caffeine for adults at 400 milligrams. Meanwhile, there is no proven safe amount of caffeine for kids.“If someone were to consume two energy drinks in one sitting, that could put them at a potentially toxic amount of caffeine,” Dr. Amirshahi cautions.She also notes that caffeine is not the only concerning ingredient in these oftentimes bright, fizzy concoctions that appeal to the younger set. “Some energy drinks contain additional herbal stimulant mixtures that can have a synergistic effect with caffeine, increasing the risk of toxicity." And, as noted in the report, kids and teens may not be aware of the amount of caffeine in the drinks they consume. That is why Dr. Amirshahi emphasizes the importance of parents discussing the dangers of energy drink overdoses with kids.The Signs of Caffeine OverdoseVarious studies and the experts we talked to say the symptoms of a caffeine overdose to look for in your child include:Loss of appetiteNausea and vomitingRapid heart rate and/or palpitationsTremors and anxiety or irritabilityTrouble sleepingDehydration“Severe overdose can cause life-threatening symptoms including irregular heartbeat and seizures,” Brown says. Dr. Amirshahi also warns that these symptoms can lead to passing out or even cardiac arrest, which requires immediate medical attention.“If you suspect your child may be experiencing an energy drink overdose and is having life-threatening symptoms, call the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222 for free and confidential, expert advice 24 hours a day, or visit PoisonHelp.org for online support and resources,” Brown advises.Expert help is also available 24/7 through your local poison control center or online at webPOISONCONTROL. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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