Some Kids Using Too Many Energy Drinks

A Central High School student uses energy drinks to keep up with a job and school. Some doctors say there are risks to the high amounts of caffeine in these drinks and their effects on young people.

18-year-old Jennifer Bergman has a busy schedule and sometimes she uses energy drinks to stay awake.

"I usually drink one about every so often, sometimes I work at seven in the morning and you gotta be up at least an hour before," Bergman said.

Some energy drinks like Red Bull and Venom have four to five times the amount of caffeine than a soda. Bergman says if she drinks too much, she can tell.

"Because I'm such a small person, it'll affect me more and there is one time that I had one and I was really shaky throughout the day and I got a little worried," Bergman said.

That's one reason why doctors say caffeine can be a problem for young people who don't watch how much they drink. Doctors see kids as young as ten coming in with symptoms.

"Common side effects we'll see in the adolescent population are palpitations of the heart, increased blood pressure, irritability, restlessness and dehydration," Altru Dr. William Haug said.

Grand Forks Public Schools regulates what students bring into classes, including energy drinks. Two years ago they changed the beverage choices in schools to healthier options.

"We do not sell any energy drinks on campus. We sell some diet pop, we don't sell anything that's not diet. Juices, milks, those types of things," Central High School Principal Buck Kasowski said.

Doctors say energy drinks are overused and have potential harms to those who abuse them. Keeping students like Bergman aware of how many of these caffeine-filled drinks she has in a day is important.

"A lot of people think like, 'oh yeah, it's so cool to drink like a Venom or a Monster. You look cool, you're part of that whole group.' I think it's really important to watch what you drink and how much you consume in a day," Bergman said.

Doctors say a healthy alternative to energy drinks is having adequate sleep, a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water.

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