/Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_p5opdt55omy3vn55y2ypwy55_f01ab0c9-afe4-4c6b-bcd4-b0aff11f377f_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:59:33 GMT 15 By Alina Sananikone
Students at our school are becoming more and more addicted. But not to drugs or smoking. They are getting addicted to caffeine. Waking up early in the morning is causing students to feel the need to drink caffeinated drinks just to stay awake during classes. Caffeine, a drug that is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants, stimulates the central nervous system, which causes increased alertness. Caffeine gives most people a temporary energy boost and elevates mood. Teens usually get most of their caffeine from soft drinks and energy drinks. While we all need an energy boost from time to time, an energy drink may not be the best way to get it. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. With frequent use, caffeine can be mildly addictive. School nurse Debbie Midkiff and clinic attendant Doris Sunday agree that being addicted to large amounts of caffeine can be just as bad as smoking. "Drinking large amounts of caffeine can cause dehydration, headaches, a high heart rate, muscle issues, and mess up the bladder and heart," said Sunday. Energy drinks are marketed mainly to the younger generation, which is why energy drinks have names that convey strength, power and speed, and sexuality. Teens are attracted to the wide variety of styles, flavors and sizes available. With the recent surge of trendy energy drinks such as Amp, Monster, ROCKSTAR and Red Bull, students can get these drinks in any nearby grocery store. Students at Hylton are following this trend. "I drink energy drinks everyday, and as an athlete I can’t function without it," said junior Andrew Blakely. "It affects my performance and makes me feel tired, and if I don’t drink it everyday, I get the jitters." Addiction to caffeine has lead students to have serious health repercussions. "I have been dependent on caffeine in Coca-Cola everyday since the eighth grade," said senior Nayra Guevara. "One time over a summer, I drank so much soda that I had to report to the doctor’s because I didn’t have enough fiber in my system." The bottom line is that while energy drinks aren’t necessarily harmful, many just don't live up to most of the claims they make. These drinks are highly concentrated in sugar and caffeine, and students should drink them with moderation and caution. ]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:48:00 GMT