Not only do energy drinks have high amounts of caffeine that could be dangerous, but they also have high amounts of sugar in them. The term “sugar crash” is widely known due to its effect on all types of people, but in reality- especially for students in high school a “caffeine crash” is much worse.

Senior Maddie Cardenas regularly drinks caffeinated sodas such as Alanis, Alani powder packs and monsters. Cardenas currently consumes two Alanis per day. Alanis contain approximately 200 mg of caffeine and monsters contain 150 mg. On the other hand, a regular cup of coffee only contains about 70 mg of caffeine.

“Monsters are probably my favorite. They taste good and they give me a boost of energy so I can actually push through the day,” Cardenas said.

Although caffeine helps many people to stay awake and have energy for the day, highly caffeinated energy drinks on a weekly or even daily basis has the potential of leading to a dependence on caffeine. Cardenas experiences withdrawal symptoms from caffeine if she does not drink the daily dose of caffeine she normally does.

“I get massive headaches and it makes me drowsy. I did take a two week break from drinking one at school, but if I had work I would still drink one. I cut back on my caffeine consumption, then just stopped. I’m still drinking two a day,” Cardenas said.

Not only does Cardenas experience this, but according to The National Library of Medicine, so do others. 

In one study, “fifth and sixth graders who were deprived of daily caffeine reported having symptoms including trouble thinking clearly, not feeling energetic and getting angry.”

“I think I consume caffeinated drinks two or three times a week like sweet tea and sprite. I get a sugar crash kind of. I get tired and feel grossed out,” Candalaria said.

Senior Marshall Candalaria consumes soft drinks such as sweet tea or soda regularly however she used to consume two cans of monster energy per day in middle school.

According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, “Caffeine is a stimulant drug.” This means that caffeine can single-handedly “speed up the messages travelling between the brain and the body,” and without it, regular brain functions may slow down significantly.

“I used to drink two or three energy drinks a day and they would keep me up until six in the morning,” Candalaria said.