Teenagers and Energy Drinks: A Dangerous Combination

Most American families disapprove of illegal drugs like marijuana or cocaine. But what they don’t realize is that high caffeinated energy drinks are just as dangerous. And with 3 billion dollars being made annually on these drinks, energy drinks are fast becoming a big issue. High caffeinated energy drinks should be banned for teens because they are addictive, they are unhealthy, and are gateway drugs.

            High caffeinated energy drinks should be banned for teenagers because they are addictive. Caffeine is an addictive substance found in high amounts in energy drinks that raises heart rate a blood pressure, giving teens an energy boost for a short time period. Most of these energy drinks contain 80 to 300 mg of caffeine per serving. While a whopping amount of caffeine is in one serving, the numbers get even higher when you consider that some people drink two to four servings a day. Many Teenagers who drink energy drinks find that they continue to want more and more of the drink. Teenagers that become slaves to these drugs might endanger their community by committing crimes such as robbery or even murder to get their drug fix.

           

            High caffeinated energy drinks should be banned for teenagers because they are unhealthy. The growing bodies of teenagers need wholesome foods to be able to function properly. Energy drinks are the exact opposite of wholesome, containing ingredients that hinder a young person’s overall health. These drinks contain high levels of acidity, sugar, and calories putting toxins into a body’s system that cause obesity, dental problems, and even cancer. The effects of the high levels of caffeine in energy drinks include dizziness, irritability, nausea, nervousness, and jitters. Another big problem with caffeine is the way it gives teenagers trouble with sleeping. When caffeine in the body makes the heart pump blood faster, the heart is more likely to grow tired. This could cause fatal heart failure and death.  The energy boost from the caffeine makes the pumped up body less likely to get a good night’s sleep, a must for growing teenagers.  Also, teenagers who become unhealthy from drinking these substances are very likely to start taking in more serious drugs into their body.

            Energy Drinks should be banned for teens because they are a gateway drug. A gateway drug is a drug that helps people go down the road to taking in more serious drugs. Studies show that drinking of energy drinks can lead to consumption of more serious drugs like the misuse of prescription drugs. People who drink energy drinks less than 51 days a year were less likely to have trouble with alcohol than people who drank them 52 or more days a year. While some argue that taking away Energy Drinks for teens would conflict with the freedom of choice in America, they fail to realize that alcohol (an equally serious drug), is rightfully outlawed for teens to drink as well. This protects not only the teen’s health, but the health of the community.

            These highly caffeinated poison concoctions we call energy drinks should be banned for teens to eat because they create teens that are addicted, they are unhealthy, and are gateway drugs that lead to more serious offences. If we can support the cause of banning energy drinks for teens, we can help make the adults of tomorrow be the best that they can be.