Teenagers and Caffeine

Recently while I was shopping at the mall, I observed a mother giving a child that appeared to be approximately the age of eight, a Red Bull energy drink. My husband had to hold me back from taking the can from the child's hand. He also had to cover my mouth because I wanted to say, "Are you crazy, that's not a drink for a child." The mother sensed my distress and said, "He likes red bull"

When I was growing up we never had caffeine soft drinks in the house, and chocolate was handed out only on special occasions, even in high school nobody went into the cafeteria to ask for a cup of coffee. Nevertheless, today it is different. Adults and teenagers think caffeine is harmless. Teenagers are drinking coffee drinks, energy drinks and eating chocolate, they are constantly fueling their caffeine habit

I know firsthand the dangers of overdosing on caffeine. One morning I had my usual two cups of coffee, but I was feeling sluggish, so I drank 6 ounces of Red Bull. Within minutes, I had "my wings." I raced through my morning chores, took a power walk and even parked, shopped, and unloaded my groceries in under an hour! I had time to spare so I did a load of wash and cleaned the windows! I accomplished all before my doctor's appointment that was scheduled mid morning. On the way to the Doctor, I noticed that I was driving very fast, passing all the cars, and even running a few yellow lights. Lucky for me there was not a police officer in sight. I was feeling exhilarated so I parked in the last space and jogged to the door. Signed in at the desk, rearranged all the magazines, organized my purse and filed my nails, all was completed before the nurse called my name.

The nurse took my blood pressure, first my right arm, then my left and then my right arm again. Next, the doctor took my blood pressure, he then told me it was through the roof and that he wanted to send me to the hospital. He thought I was having a heart attack. I told him I had 2 cups coffee and a 6 oz red bull. He then made me lay down and they would not release me until my pressure lowered. His advice was that I needed to lay off the caffeine, as an overdose can kill you!

If you abuse your caffeine intake, you will have problems. Caffeine will cause insomnia; tremors, nausea and diarrhea, and high doses will cause your heart to race, palpitations, seizures, and high blood pressure. Ok I was adult that overdosed on caffeine, but what about you are Teenagers. They are not only getting high, they are getting addicted to caffeine!

Like an addiction, I weaned myself off caffeine. I suffered all the withdrawal symptoms, sleep-deprived, with no energy and the horrific headaches. Crabby and nervous I have been caffeine free for over a year, but there is not a day that goes by that I do not crave my cup of coffee with the white chocolate creamer. I was addicted to the brewing, the aroma, the taste and yes, the energy!

Do we want our Teenagers addicted to caffeine? As parents, should we insist that a warning is on caffeine drinks? What is your opinion?