Energy Drinks + Alcohol = Serious Health Risk
Article from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
“Energy drinks used in excess or in combination with alcohol or drugs can pose a serious health risk,” said Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., Administrator in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about a new report, Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks. This report is based on data from SAMHSA’s 2005–2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reports. In the DAWN data analysis, 44 percent of the emergency department visits involving energy drinks were associated with the combined use of an energy drink with other substances such as alcohol, pharmaceuticals, or illicit drugs. The rate of combination use of energy drinks and other substances of abuse was greatest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (52 percent).
For healthcare professionals and others working with underage drinkers (including cases where energy drinks are involved), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers A Pocket Guide for Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth.