The hiss of my can being opened echoes around my silent classroom. It’s like clockwork: As the late bell sounds at 7:50, I am already opening up my daily energy drink and taking a refreshing sip. Whether my poison of choice is a Celsius, Monster, or my latest obsession, an Alani Nu, I cannot get through the day without one.
However, I am aware that my energy drink craving is likely slowly killing me. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 50% of adolescents between 12 and 17 in the United States consume energy drinks. Around 1500 adolescents in 2011 were hospitalized due to the effects of energy drinks, including heart complications, kidney failure, neurological damage, and more. These side effects are life-threatening. They will, and have previously, led to death. But I, along with many of my peers, choose to ignore this reality.
I am always exhausted. From school to homework to my social life to college applications to my job, I am tired. There is simply not enough time in the day for me to get everything done, while also getting my eight hours of sleep. So, I turn to energy drinks to get through the day, even though they are killing me.
I am sure if I had better time management skills, held myself to lower standards, or simply put less on my plate, I could get everything done in a day with no caffeine. But, I am just an imperfect 17-year-old girl trying her best to make it through the day, and I’ve accepted that I need the deathly liquid assistance to help me.
A few months ago, I began to notice my lip twitching every couple of seconds. It wasn’t anything serious, but was slightly alarming. After a quick Google search, I found my reason: energy drinks. My solution was to take a week off until my lip twitch went away. Once it was gone, I got right back into drinking them daily.
I have also noticed on days I try to go without my energy drink, I am met with a pounding headache and overwhelming tiredness in the afternoon. Again, slightly alarming. My solution is to simply drink an energy drink to make it go away. Even when I try to better myself, the need for an energy drink always comes crawling back to me.
I know I am not the only person who struggles with this. Walking in the halls, I can guarantee I will see at least three people carrying their choice of energy drink. My friends and I openly discuss how we know they are bad for us, but we can’t stop drinking them.
We are consumed by energy drinks. This craving isn’t proof of our lack of concern for our health. In fact, our fixation is evidence that no one is immune to the power of caffeine. My hands automatically reach for an energy drink. My brain makes decisions without my actual consent. This isn’t a problem that is easy for a teen to solve alone. According to Healthline, “when trying to quit” energy drinks, “you should seek support from your healthcare professional” and seek “healthier alternatives” to gain energy.
Our craving is also proof of a deeper issue: energy drink companies prey on and target teenagers like me. They market their products with brightly colored and patterned cans. They design their products to attract a vulnerable, tired age group. We must be self aware and realize that these drinks are creating life-long problems.
We are overworked and tired. Teenagers like myself must find an alternative. Light exercise, power naps, or less things on our to-do list are possible ways that our generation could be saved, but this craving is so much more than an easy switch to another form of energy. We need to not only seek help, but call out the companies preying on teens for profit.
Let’s put down the drink and prevent the health problems we’re creating before it’s too late.
