Energy drinks to “get high”: A modality in substance use among Puerto Rican adolescents, 2012-13

Energy drinks have become increasingly popular among adolescents.  Many use them to boost energy levels, and some mix them with alcohol to reduce drinking-related effects. But, do teens regard energy drinks on their own as drugs? Our objective was to explore if Puerto Rican adolescents utilized energy drinks as drugs to “get high”.  The sample (n=3,982) in this island-wide school-based cross-sectional survey was selected using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design, and was representative of all 7^th-12^th grade students in PR. Data was collected using a pre-coded self-administered questionnaire.  Proportions were compared using chi-square tests.  Odds ratios were also computed.  All analyses were performed on weighted data.  Approximately 7% of the students reported ever using energy drinks to “get high” (alone or combined with alcohol/pills), 5% reported use in the last year, and 4% used in the last month.  Prevalence of recent use (last month) was highest among students in tenth grade. Males and high school students were more likely to report use than females and middle school students. Students who recently used energy drinks were also more likely to binge drink and to be recent substance users (tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, non-prescription pills, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack, or designer drugs); 1 in 3 used the drinks combined with alcohol. It is disturbing that some students believe that energy drinks are drugs, since this could lead to increased use, a concern due to the potentially serious adverse effects of using energy drinks. Prevention efforts should target this dangerous modality.