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Sometimes an energy drink can be a good pick-me-up, but a new study suggests that when the popular beverages are mixed with alcohol it can having serious effects on the adolescent brain.
The Doctors look into a study from Purdue University which found that when the highly caffeinated beverages are mixed with alcohol, it has a similar effect on the adolescent brain as cocaine. ER physician Dr. Travis Stork notes the troubling statistic that hospitalizations as a result of energy drinks doubled from 2007 to 2011.
Watch: Man Gets Hepatitis from Energy Drinks?
Psychologist & sex therapist Dr. Chris Donaghue notes that so many of us are over-worked and under-slept and says we all need to take care of ourselves better, which includes prioritizing self-care and rest over work. In his practice, he often encourages his patients to quit energy drinks and learn how to cope with life’s ups and down without constant stimulation.
A Doctors’ reminder – before your next energy drink, remember it could easily have 10 times the amount of caffeine as a soda and 5 times the amount of a cup of coffee. They note that mixing a stimulant and a depressant, like alcohol, can create a cycle where the user feels the need to drink more and more.
Like we recommend with alcohol, The Doctors say moderation with energy drinks is very important.
