Story Published:
Dec 12, 2007 at 11:34 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Dec 13, 2007 at 12:19 AM CDT
You've heard of them: energy drinks.
They come in all different sizes and brands.
As Dan Hanger reports, you can find them almost anywhere - including middle schools.
A "Full Throttle"... How about an "Assault"... A little "Khoas"...
Want to feel like a "Rock Star"... or better yet... a "Monster?"
Yes, these are some of the so-called energy drinks you can find just about anywhere.
"Number one seller out of our coolers is the energy drinks."
And you won't believe whose taste-buds are craving the drinks.
"We get them all ages, from six, seven, eight-nine year olds."
Woodland Middle School Principal Bonnie Wolden says energy drinks are the new tend, just like cigarettes used to be - except of course. -this new fad is NOT illegal.
"A lot of kids drink them because they think its cool and they don't know what the health risks are for them."
St. Luke's Doctor Chris Delp says younger people tend to consume excessive amounts of energy drinks, and his emergency room has seen an increase in visits from patients after they do it.
"Most of them contain about twice the amount of caffeine as an average pop...and they also contain other stimulants as well."
That's one major reason Dr. Delp says youngsters should steer clear of these highly-jolt drinks.
He says serious complications can happen like rapid and irregular heart beats.
"When the heart beats a little too fast, it won't fill properly, and you actually can lower your blood pressure, get dizzy, feel light headed or in some cases actually faint."
Principal Walden can't agree more.
She and her staff had a frightening scare when a student slammed a 16 ounce can of energy drink on an empty stomach.
"He was found in the hallway. He was shaking uncontrollably. He could not walk or talk or stand."
Wolden says the boy was hospitalized and is OK today, but says it's an example that'll hopefully make a student think twice before picking up an energy drink... and make parents more aware of the dangers.
"Try to inform them because I don't believe that kids will deliberately do something that has a potential to hurt them."
Another trend - another risk - but one that can be monitored or avoided.
"If you find it in society... You'll find it in school."
In Duluth, Dan Hanger, the Northland's NewsCenter.
Experts warn the short and long-term effects of energy drinks are not yet known.