What is Drank the Anti-Energy Drink?

What is the Anti-Energy Drink Drank?
With the energy drink craze that has taken over gas stations across the country the past ten years, the world has seen its share of energy drinks. Now a new drink has appeared on the market that is calling itself the "anti-energy drink." Drank, as it is named, is produced by the Houston-based Innovative Beverage Group, and bears the slogan "slow your roll" as its motto.

The difference between the anti-energy drink Drank and the more common energy drinks is that Drank is designed not to give you a boost of energy, but instead to calm and relax you. According to the official website for the beverage, the anti-energy drink Drank includes three ingredients to give this "slow your roll" effect: melatonin, valerian root, and rose hips. Of these three, two are worth noting.

What is in the Anti-Energy Drink Drank?
Valerian Root: Valerian root is one of the primary effective ingredients in Drank, and is most commonly used as a sedative or tranquilizer according to the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Side effects can include apathy, depression, dizziness, or drowsiness, and those who use valerian root supplements are advised to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.

The effects of valerian root fall into the same range as that of Xanax and Valium. Those who have seen the movie Fight Club may remember that valerian root is what the doctor in the movie advised Tyler Durden to chew when he was dealing with his insomnia. This makes Drank more than just an anti-energy drink; this is a tranquilizer.

Melatonin: Melatonin is a natural neuro-hormone that is secreted by the brain during the dark hours of the day and aids in sleep as well as a myriad of other bodily functions. Its production for use as a supplement or to aid in sleep began in 1993, and due to its nature as a natural hormone, has not been well-tested for long term side effects. Melatonin is banned in many countries throughout the world according to the USPS mailing guidelines.

While melatonin has many beneficial effects (including regulation of our circadian rhythm, treatment for insomnia, and treatment for ADHD), its primary use remains to induce drowsiness and to aid in sleep in small doses says the sources at melatonin.com. Large doses can damage sleep cycles. Also, warnings for the use of melatonin include admonitions against driving vehicles or operating machinery after taking it. Drank also contains a warning that the drink may cause drowsiness.

Melatonin production in the body begins at a specific point in the day to start to gently nudge the human body towards sleep. Even at the height of the body's melatonin production, there is only a very small amount in the bloodstream and the brain. When larger doses are introduced into the body, it can serve to reset the body's circadian rhythm, sleep cycles, and other functions.

Imagine that a car is coming upon a necessary turn. Typically when driving, a person will either slow the car so that he can gently turn the car onto the next street, or he will make a gradual turn at higher speeds. Taking larger doses of melatonin is like making that turn instantly, without a slowdown or a gradual nudge from the steering wheel. At best, all passengers are shocked by the violence of the turn; at worst, the car flips and rolls. The anti-energy drink Drank can do more than just slow your roll; it can roll the car altogether.

This is especially true when melatonin is used at a time when the body does not need it. Drinking a drink laden with melatonin like the anti-energy drink Drank could eventually cause many undesirable effects associated with melatonin. At its worst, improper use of melatonin can act like pressing a giant reset switch to a person's circadian rhythm, which can cause a host of symptoms such as constipation, lethargy, depression, high acidity levels, breaks in menstrual cycles for women, and in rare cases, organ failure. This makes Drank more than just an "anti-energy" drink. Drank could prove very dangerous to your health.

Anti-Energy Drink Drank Has Links to Purple Drank Drug Culture?What is Purple Drank?
Does this make Drank sound like a legal drug? Maybe in some ways, it is. In fact, the anti-energy drink's purple color and name are strikingly similar to an illegal drug commonly referred to as "Purple Drank" in hip-hop culture.

A report from the Journal of Drug Education details Purple Drank as a recreational drug that is derived from a combination of prescription-strength cold and cough syrup with promethazine and codeine mixed with Jolly Rancher candy and Sprite to create a drink that is purple in color. Purple Drank is used to create a state of sedation, and can cause hallucinations and altered states of consciousness.

It is no wonder then that teenagers who drink the convenience store Drank regularly call the beverage Purple Drank. The manufacturers have not even attempted to hide the similarity between their product and Purple Drank, and are actually marketing their beverage using drug terms. The similarities are undeniable: both purple drank and the new anti-energy drink cause drowsiness, both are purple in color, and both go by almost the same name.

This falls right in line with the growing trend of linking the marketing of consumer items to teenagers with consumer items that are of a more adult nature, or at least require adult maturity to use wisely. More and more, the line between drug culture and youth culture is being blurred. It is important to recognize the connections that media makes with consumerism so as to avoid being merely a sheep and following the leading of those who have only their profit margins in view. Purple Drank is only the most recent in a long line of drug culture marketing.

For more information about energy drinks, please read What's the Big Deal With Energy Drinks.

Sources:

Drank Official Website.

"Melatonin: the Myths and Facts" by Courtney Ratzburg.

Melatonin.com website

National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements report on Valerian.

Journal of Drug Education, 2003.

"Country Conditions for Mailing." USPS.