Drugs at the local high-school are always a hot topic. Everyone looks at the next generation and judges the path they take to adulthood, including the use of recreational drugs.

Don’t misunderstand that statement. Every generation of teens explores some sort of mind-altering product: alcohol, cannabis, weed, acid, X. You name it and some teenager somewhere has probably consumed it. On or near school grounds. 

As a volunteer coach at the PECI, I get to work with today’s youth, which allows me the opportunity to see the differences between each age group as they grow up. I also notice these changes between each class because I’m not there daily, as they are growing up. And I can honestly say, drug use at PECI feels like it’s at an all-time low. Teachers seem to agree: the general consensus is that the counselling and guidance programs around drug use have been effective at helping teens make smarter choices. That’s something to celebrate.

But. Before everyone starts to think that today’s kids are better off, there is a darker side to this positive news. While drug and alcohol use are down, something even more dangerous maybe taking their place. And no, I don’t mean their phones, though there’s cause for concern there too. That’s a topic for another day.

I am seeing a concerning and increasing use of energy and caffeinated products at all ages. These drinks are readily available everywhere. They are addictive, harmful, and in some cases deadly to the adolescents consuming them. At grocery and convenience stores, these amped-up drinks take up more shelf and cooler space than ever before. With colourful cans and names like Pineapple Dream or Gummy Sour Surprise, I can easily see why they are popular to those seeking new experiences. To truly understand how extreme it has become, take a look at the garbage and recycling cans at your local schools. They are always filled to the brim with the trademark cans and the graphic-covered bottles. It’s even worse around the gyms and the sports fields: the athletes have been told through clever marketing that these drinks give them an edge.

So, what makes them so dangerous? Online sources, including HEALTHLINE.com, claim that these drinks, filled with sugar, sugar substitutes, and caffeine, create the same dependencies of many illegal drugs. 

Habitual coffee drinkers know the feeling of going without a morning cup of joe; the same withdrawal happens from other caffeinated products. Symptoms include strong cravings, headaches, irritability, and depression. The known side effects of both coffee and energy drinks also include increased heart rates, high blood pressure, and seizures as the caffeine over-stimulates the nervous system. Youth consuming energy drinks have increased insomnia, higher-than-normal anxiety and often describe daily energy crashes. According to the Canadian Pediatric Society, even the sports drinks promoting electrolytes and extra vitamins carry negative consequences: as kids consume them in place of water, dehydration is often the result of this “drink.”

As a happy coffee-drinker, I didn’t really see much of a problem with these drinks in the hands of kids — at first. I’ve had a few, and while I got the “perk” created by the caffeine, I was prepared, because I knew what I was drinking. I’ve had years of experience and was consuming with the intention of being more alert. 

That said, the average coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine and I know my limit is 2, sometimes 3, cups per day. I consume about 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. Energy drinks and shots in Canada are allowed to provide up to 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving. The most popular lines, like MONSTER, Alani NU, Ghost Energy, Celsius and Prime, all supply at least 180g per can or bottle, as allowed under Heath Canada guidelines. 

When talking to the kids, it surprised me to hear that some were regularly drinking 3 or 4 of these a day. That is 7 to 10 cups of coffee, or 700-1000 milligrams of caffeine every day. Overdosing on energy drinks is now so common, there a poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222) set up just to deal with teens over-using energy drinks.

The long-term side effects of this kind of consumption are not fully known. Studies from the National Institute of Health and the Mayo clinic both show that heavy consumption of energy drinks leads to high blood pressure, chronic heart rhythm abnormalities, type 2 diabetes, dental enamel erosion, and psychological dependence. One notes, “When taken by youth, energy drinks have long term impacts on a broad spectrum of developing organs, including kidneys and the brain.”

The most dangerous part of all this is that it’s legal. Massive amounts are spent promoting, marketing and making it easy for teens to become customers, get addicted, and stay addicted. There are rules about how marketing dollars that target youth can be spent, but they clearly are not enough. The Canadian Beverage Association has a self-imposed Energy Drink marketing code to restrict sales aimed at children.

As parents, community elders, mentors, and guides for young adults, the best and most important help we can give kids today is to pay attention to what they are doing. 

If you start to see a pattern of increased use of energy drinks, have an open and honest conversation with your child about why they want them. Are they struggling? Do they feel that they need an advantage? Is it peer-pressure? Ask yourself, “is my child addicted to caffeine?” Just because these drinks are currently legal to every age doesn’t make them safe. 

Drugs at the high school have changed and so, too, must parenting and mentoring strategies.