Brightly colored cans of energy drinks have become a common sight in school hallways and classrooms. Many students rely on these drinks to stay awake, focus, or get through long school days. However, despite their popularity, energy drinks may come with serious health risks that many students are not fully aware of.
Many studies have shown that energy drinks can lead to many health problems including, but not limited to, diabetes, insomnia, heart problems, and even cardiac arrest. Yet, despite all these health risks, many students still depend on energy drinks for various reasons.
Students mostly turn to energy drinks as a way to stay awake and focused during the school day. Brunswick High School (BHS) senior, Chellsie Shoemaker, shared her opinion on the benefits of energy drinks.
“I think that they do help students stay awake at school and more focused. But everyone has a different body and mind so it may work for some and not others,” Shoemaker said. “I find that I focus and become more alert when I have caffeine in my system which counteracts some mental struggles I already have so it really does help me at least.”
However, despite becoming more alert and more focused at school, Shoemaker described the bad side effects she had from energy drinks,
“Caffeine has given me literal panic attacks especially when I was new to it. Even in recent times, if my body is already in a specific state, it doesn’t feel good and is scary,” Shoemaker said. “I had panic attacks, sweating, dizziness, almost passing out, etc.”
Some people believe that drinking energy drinks can be beneficial when it’s used to help you concentrate and stay focused instead of people drinking them every day just to drink them. BHS senior Andre Phillips believes that the caffeine boost from energy drinks can be helpful if you don’t drink them all the time.
“I believe a little caffeine from energy drinks can aid in student focus or concentration when it’s used to help conquer an academic goal. Not being used everyday just to stay awake,” Phillips said.
This suggests that energy drinks can be helpful if people drink them for the right reasons and not just drinking them to stay awake.
In addition to physical effects, some students believe there is a lack of awareness about the risks of energy drinks. Shoemaker believes that students focus more on the short term effects and don’t really consider the long term effects.
“I do not think they’re aware of the risks. They may know surface level but not the long term effects if used in excess and don’t use the energy for productivity,” Shoemaker said.
Energy drinks may offer a quick boost of energy, but the effects on students are not always positive. As their popularity continues to grow, it is important for students to be aware of the potential long term risks and make informed decisions.