Alcohol and energy drink use among adolescents seeking emergency department care

Abstract

Emergency Department (ED) visits due to energy drinks rose drastically from 2007 to 2011. Consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks by young people is particularly concerning. Among youth (ages 14–20) in the ED reporting past-year alcohol use, we assessed frequency, reasons, and medical consequences of consuming alcohol and energy drinks in the same beverage or on the same occasion, and relationships with other risk behaviors. The sample included 439 youth (Mage=18.6 years, SD=1.4; 41% male; 73% Caucasian): those who drank alcohol, but not energy drinks (Non-users; 41%, n=178), those who drank alcohol and energy drinks on separate occasions (Separate; 23%, n=103), and those who combined alcohol and energy drinks in the same beverage or on the same occasion (Combined; 36%, n=158). Common reasons for combining energy drinks and alcohol were hiding the flavor of alcohol (39%) and liking the taste (36%). Common consequences were feeling jittery (71%) and trouble sleeping (46%). Combined users had the highest rates of risk behaviors (e.g., drug use, sexual risk behaviors, driving after drinking) and alcohol use severity. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that men, those who had sex after substance use, those who had used drugs, and those with higher alcohol severity were more likely to be Combined users than Non-Users. Those with higher alcohol severity were also more likely to be Combined users than Separate users. Combining energy drinks and alcohol is associated with higher rates of other risk behaviors among young drinkers. Future studies are needed to determine longitudinal relationships of energy drink use on substance use problem trajectories.

Alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED): A critical review and meta‐analysis

“…Significant associations were also found between AMED consumption and increased risk of casual sex (Miller, ), intoxicated sex (Miller, ; Snipes & Benotsch, ), unprotected sex (Berger et al, ; Snipes & Benotsch, ), sex under the influence of drugs (Bonar et al, ; Snipes & Benotsch, ), having an increased number of sexual partners (Flotta et al, ; Snipes & Benotsch, ), and sexual victimization in men, but not in women (Snipes et al, ). Also, significant associations were found between AMED consumption and being more likely to experience negative alcohol‐related consequences (Berger et al, ; Brache & Stockwell, ; De Haan et al, ; O'Brien et al, ), increased risk taking (Berger et al, ; Brache & Stockwell, ; Peacock, Droste, Pennay, Lubman et al, ; Woolsey et al, ), being involved in verbal and physical aggression (Miller, Quigley, Elisio‐Arras, & Ball, ), experiencing negative behavioral outcomes such as fighting (Holubcikova et al, ), and nonviolent alcohol‐related injury (Coomber et al, ).…”

“…Only 12.2% of the sample endorsed "to get drunk" as an important motive to consume AMED. Bonar et al (2015) interviewed 439 U.S. youths, aged 14-20 years, who were seeking emergency department care for any reason. Of these, 158 consumed AMED during the past year (36%).…”

Behavioural correlates of energy drink consumption among adolescents: A review of the literature

“…Teachers in the USA have reported more significant behavioural issues amongst students who have disclosed habitual consumption including tachycardia and dehydration requiring emergency intervention (Crane, 2009). The adverse effects of ED consumption has led to a doubling of emergency department attendances (Bonar et al, 2015), with 20,783 visits in 2011; 42% accounted for by 12-25 year-olds (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2013) Given the increasing popularity of ED consumption among adolescents, there is a surprising dearth of UK studies (Visram et al, 2105;Visram & Hashem, 2016). Given the relative gap in research literature, this review aims to explore behavioural correlates of ED consumption amongst adolescents to determine lessons that might be applied for practise in the UK.…”

Alcohol mixed with energy drink use during young adulthood

“…One reason for such increased harms may be greater risk-taking among AmED users. AmED use has been associated with increased risk of injury (see Roemer & Stockwell, 2017), driving after drinking (Bonar et al, 2015; Thombs et al, 2010; Tucker, Troxel, Ewing, & D’Amico, 2016), engagement in risky sexual behavior (e.g., unprotected sex; Snipes & Benotsch, 2013), aggression (Miller, Quigley, Eliseo-Arras, & Ball, 2016), and illicit substance use (Brache & Stockwell, 2011; Snipes & Benotsch, 2013). Within-person research has generally indicated that using alcohol and energy drinks on the same day (Patrick & Maggs, 2014) or at the same time (Linden-Carmichael & Lau-Barraco, 2017) is associated with greater alcohol-related consequences, although a review indicated some mixed findings (Peacock et al, 2014).…”