Increased Alcohol Consumption, Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use, and Illicit Drug Use Are Associated With Energy Drink Consumption Among College Students

Abstract

Objectives-This longitudinal study examined the prevalence and correlates of energy drink use among college students, and investigated its possible prospective associations with subsequent drug use, including nonmedical prescription drug use.Methods-Participants were 1,060 undergraduates from a large, public university who completed three annual interviews, beginning in their first year of college. Use of energy drinks, other caffeinated products, tobacco, alcohol, and other illicit and prescription drugs were assessed, as well as demographic and personality characteristics.Results-Annual weighted prevalence of energy drink use was 22.6% wt and 36.5% wt in the second and third year of college, respectively. Compared to energy drink non-users, energy drink users had heavier alcohol consumption patterns, and were more likely to have used other drugs, both concurrently and in the preceding assessment. Regression analyses revealed that Year 2 energy drink use was significantly associated with Year 3 nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and prescription analgesics, but not with other Year 3 drug use, holding constant demographics, prior drug use, and other factors.Conclusions-A substantial and rapidly-growing proportion of college students use energy drinks. Energy drink users tend to have greater involvement in alcohol and other drug use and higher levels of sensation-seeking, relative to non-users of energy drinks. Prospectively, energy drink use has a unique relationship with nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and analgesics. More research is needed regarding the health risks associated with energy drink use in young adults, including their possible role in the development of substance use problems. KeywordsCollege students; energy drinks; prescription stimulants; longitudinal study; caffeine NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptSince energy drinks were first introduced in the 1990s, the industry has experienced considerable growth with an average annual growth rate of 55% from 2002 to 2006, and annual sales now totaling approximately $5.4 billion (Packaged Facts, 2007). Given that energy drinks are typically marketed to adolescents and young adultse-especially males (Reissig et al., 2009)-it is not surprising that the past-month prevalence of energy drink use among college students is high, with estimates ranging from 39% to 57% (Malinauskas et al., 2007;Miller, 2008b;Oteri et al., 2007). Unfortunately, energy drink consumption has gone largely unnoticed in the scientific literature, but from a public health perspective, it is important to understand the potential impact energy drinks may have on the health and wellbeing of young adults.Only a small number of studies of college students have attempted to identify the correlates of energy drink consumption and describe the patterns of use. A consistent finding is that students who consume energy drinks have higher rates of alcohol and other drug involvement (Miller, 2008a;O'Brien et al., 2008;Oteri et al., 2...

Energy Drink Consumption and Associations With Demographic Characteristics, Drug Use and Injury Among Adolescents

“…These findings are consistent with findings from studies of college students that indicate that substance use behaviours tend to cluster within individuals. 7,10,[17][18][19] Although it cannot be determined from these data whether binge drinking and energy drink consumption occurred at the same time, about one third of adolescents who reported binge drinking in the previous month also reported energy drink consumption in the previous week, compared to only 14% of those who did not report binge drinking. This highlights concerns about the practice of mixing energy drinks with alcohol.…”

“…The sparse research that has been conducted suggests that the consumption of energy drinks is correlated with heavy alcohol use, licit and illicit drug use, impulsivity, and risk-taking behaviours, including fighting and risky sexual behaviours. 7,10,[17][18][19] Much of this research, however, has focused on consumption among college or university students and involves samples that are non-generalizable. 7,10,17 Despite attention from media and regulatory agencies that highlight concerns about energy drinks, there is a gap in the research literature with regard to consumption among adolescents.…”

“…The sparse research that has been conducted suggests that the consumption of energy drinks is correlated with heavy alcohol use, licit and illicit drug use, impulsivity, and risk-taking behaviours, including fighting and risky sexual behaviours. 7,10,[17][18][19] ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To examine energy drink consumption and its association with demographic characteristics, drug use, and injury among adolescents. …”

Energy drink use frequency among an international sample of people who use drugs: Associations with other substance use and well-being

“…In regards to risky behaviour, research has indicated that ED consumption is associated with increased alcohol consumption (e.g., Arria et al, 2010;Arria et al, 2011), tobacco consumption (e.g., Friis et al, 2014;Trapp et al, 2014b), nonmedical use of prescription drugs (e.g., Arria et al, 2010;Miller and Quigley, 2011), and illicit drug use (e.g., Terry-McElrath et al, 2014;Trapp et al, 2014b). Based on the pharmacological effects of ED and of alcohol, it has been hypothesised that simultaneous use of EDs with alcohol may promote increased alcohol intake by: i.)…”

“…Estimates of use are generally based on convenience samples within specific regions in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe, with indications that consumption is normative amongst adolescents (Arria et al, 2014;Azagba et al, 2014;Gallimberti et al, 2013) and young adults (Arria et al, 2010;Berger et al, 2011;Lubman et al, 2013;Rudolph et al, 2014). However, increasing adverse exposure presentations to emergency departments and poison information call centres (Gunja and Brown, 2012;Substance Abuse andMental Health Service Administration, 2011, 2013), coupled with associations between consumption and risky behaviour (Arria et al, 2014), have generated public debate regarding whether regulation of these beverages would be appropriate.…”