New Jersey Poison Control warns students about dangers of mixing energy drinks and alcohol
NEW JERSEY — As college students prepare to return to campus for the fall semester, the New Jersey Poison Control Center is warning about the health risks of mixing energy drinks with alcohol.
The combination, commonly consumed at parties, tailgates and other social gatherings, can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, injuries and impaired judgment, according to the center.
Health experts say caffeine, a stimulant found in energy drinks, can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, causing people to feel less intoxicated than they actually are. That false sense of sobriety can lead to increased alcohol consumption and greater risk of harm.
“As students prepare for a new school year, it’s important to understand that energy drinks don’t make alcohol safer,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “While caffeine may make someone feel more awake, it can hide the warning signs of intoxication and create a false sense of sobriety. Students may think they’re less impaired than they really are.”
Calello added that a false sense of confidence “can lead people to drink more alcohol or underestimate their level of impairment. The result can be alcohol poisoning, injuries, and other serious alcohol-related harms.”
According to the Poison Control Center, mixing alcohol and energy drinks can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning and overdose, accidents and impaired driving, irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure, as well as sleep disruption and severe dehydration.
The center advises students to avoid mixing alcohol with energy drinks, watch for friends who may be overly intoxicated and seek help immediately if someone becomes ill.
The New Jersey Poison Control Center provides free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day for questions involving alcohol, medications, chemicals, food poisoning, carbon monoxide and other poison-related emergencies.
Anyone needing assistance can call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or use the online chat service. For life-threatening emergencies, including difficulty breathing, seizures or trouble waking someone, call 911 immediately.
