Apr 16, 2013 | By Tim Stoddart

Energy Drink Addiction

Addiction Resources

Do you need a Red Bull in the morning before you can start your day? Do 5-Hour Energy Shots keep you going at work? Do you abstain from alcohol and drink a Rockstar instead? You might have an energy drink addiction. In recent years, the popularity of energy drinks has skyrocketed, and so has the occurrence of energy drink addiction. It’s estimated that as much as 50% of young adults consume energy drinks on a regular basis, and demographic that’s increasing its energy drink use the most is adults aged 40 and over. While energy drinks can give you a sugary, caffeinated boost of energy, they can also be dangerous.

Caffeine Addiction

Energy drink addiction s is actually addiction to caffeine. If you can’t function without a cup of coffee or an energy drink in the morning, or if you get a headache when you skip it, your body is addicted to caffeine. Even if your caffeine addiction isn’t wreaking havoc on your life, it can still cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The maximum amount of caffeine that anyone should consume in one day is 500mg. The average 16-oz cup of coffee has 170mg of caffeine. The symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are headaches, fatigue, weakness, inability to concentrate, sleepiness, muscle tension, irritability, depression, anxiety, and nausea. Withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after you stop consuming caffeine, and they reach their peak about 12-48 hours later. It can take a week and sometimes more for withdrawal symptoms to go away, and just 100mg of caffeine per day can cause withdrawal. Also, as with any addiction, your tolerance for caffeine goes up over time, meaning you’ll need to drink more to feel the same amount of energy.

The Danger of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are particularly dangerous because of their high levels of caffeine. Many energy drinks have between 100mg and 200mg of caffeine per serving, but it can vary wildly. One of the energy drinks with the most concentrated caffeine content is Redline, which contains 350mg of caffeine in just 2.5-oz. The problem with energy drinks is that many people don’t realize the amount of caffeine they are consuming when they drink several energy drinks in one day, and most don’t even know what an acceptable level of caffeine is. For example, consume just two Redline energy drinks in one day, and you’ve already far exceeded the recommended maximum amount of caffeine – by 40%. Energy drink addiction can cause insomnia, nervousness, headaches, increased or irregular heartbeat, anxiety, confusion, delirium, muscle trembling, nausea, and vomiting. Caffeine mixed with alcohol can cause the dangerous scenario of increased intoxication mixed with decreased awareness of impairment. In other words, you feel less drunk but you’re actually more drunk.

An Alarming Trend

In 2005, there were 1,494 visits to the ER associated with energy drink consumption. In 2007, there were 10,068 visits to the ER associated with energy drink consumption. By 2001, there were 20,783 – a 200% increase in just four years. As energy drinks become even more popular, and energy drink addiction becomes even more common, it’s so important for people to be aware of the risks of consuming too much caffeine. People need to be aware of how much caffeine is in the energy drinks they consume and track their daily caffeine intake so that they don’t drink dangerous amounts. You may want that extra boost, but boost yourself too high, and you’re in bad territory with an energy drink addiction.

13 responses to “Energy Drink Addiction

  • Benjamin Burton

    9 years ago

    I sort of figured energy drinks to be harmful and addictive so I have been refraining from drinking as much.I do drink some though.Just not first thing in the morning.

    • The first thing in the morning thing is nonsense. You don’t want to drink them first thing before bed. The morning is the best time as it has time to wear off before your bed time. people who drink a redbull in the morning are no different than many people who drink coffee in the morning. Basically energy drinks are a strong coffee equivalent with taurine in it to take away the jitters people get from strong coffee. They can deplete your adrenal glands causing adrenal fatigue which could make take someone months to get back to normal from. I think the taurine content in some energu drinks might be too high and I think the reason they are more addictive for some people than coffee is either the guarana (a different form of caffeine) or the high levels of taurine forming some kind of body dependence. Comparing energy drinks to cocaine is a little offbase but I am sure drinking a good amount of these a day can put you at risk. A lot of law enforcement compare these to a high of cocaine or speed when in reality the truth is that the way you behave from these is the same way you could behave drinking too much strong coffee and is THAt comparable to speed and cocaine? I don’t think so

  • Redbullbaby

    9 years ago

    I crack a red bull and drink my coffee and smoke my cigarette within 20mins of waking up. Is that a problem?

    • Would you tell someone they need to get sober from coffee or cigarettes (which they used to hand out standard issue in the army)? NO If people are so sure energy drinks are on par with illegal drugs then get them made illegal! and good luck with that…Trolling energy drink imbibers is even more pathetic than trolling pot smokers…

  • Elder Bullitt

    9 years ago

    I drank 4 Rockstar Colas a day for an entire year. Now that I’ve stopped (for the most part) I tend to indulge periodically, I now suffer from the same 4 effects an alcoholic does.

  • 4/day x $2.00 (average) x 365 = $2920

    That right there is a big reason to quit. I quit for a couple weeks during this new year but fell back into it for some reason. Wasting more money……..

  • I drink rockstar xdurance performance drink (the one in the dark blue can) and im addicted to them ive drank up to 17 In a day and then not slept for days. Today I bought 15 strate from the shop dident even bother opening all the wrapping it came in im not happy with 6 cans Ledt and ive only had them 5 hours

  • Danny Matlock

    8 years ago

    Iam drinking from 6 to 8 red bull a day.for 3 1/2 years. Now I can’t seem to quick.I keep a can go in all day.

    • Same here bro..red bull..rockstar..amp. 5-7 a day in total. More expensive than binging on an 8 ball of coke once a month.

  • Missydachica

    8 years ago

    I am on day 3 of kicking my atleast 2 redbull a day habit… The big ones too! I’m feeling really terrible, muscle aches, fatigue, and just all around feeling down…. Never really realized how much it really effected me….. Hoping it gets better soon!

  • I drank every type of energy drink (mostly Monster and Rockstar) for 8 years now starting in the summer of 2008. I recently quit for about 4 weeks now and i still don’t feel my normal energy coming back yet. The reason i quit is because of joint pain in my hips, knees and my feet. I need my feet to walk. Still struggling not to buy an energy drink but I do enjoy walking without pain.

  • ive worked out that in a month i drink £125 worth of energy drinks, now i know why i have no money

  • Nichole M Sizemore

    7 years ago

    I usually drink 2-3 aday for 2 yrs straight. Ive been having extreme anxiety and panic attacks so i quit im on day 3 and my headhas so much pressure and i still get headaches.

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