Log In | Register
Energy drinks are a monster business, according to Beverage Digest, bringing in 6.9 billion dollars in business last year. But are they safe? Adverse reaction reports to the Florida Poison Information Center control in our area have gone up more than 400 percent in one year and one Florida mom says what her son didn't know about the caffeine content may have contributed to his death.
Mom Thinks Energy Drink Contributed To Her Son's Death
Seeded on Tue May 25, 2010 6:03 PM EDT
Article Source: ABC Action News- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (4)
Cheryl James constantly relives the night her world changed forever. “I told everyone you better hit your knees and you better pray hard. And I was screaming for Drew to fight," said James.
Her 19-year-old son Drew and his friends had been hanging out. Lance Colbert remembers, “We were just standing out there talking and his head went back."
Jason Mullins was also there. “When he passed out, he fell straight back and started having a mini seizure," said Mullins.
Cheryl never had a chance to speak to her son again. “He's 19. You don't just die. You don't just die. "
The medical examiner determined her teenager died of a cardiac arrhythmia due to ischemic cardiomyopathy. Cheryl wanted to know what could have triggered the arrhythmia in such a young man.
At first, mom worried it could have been drugs. But the medical examiner found only traces of a chemical compound found in marijuana in Drew's blood and urine, along with nicotine and caffeine. “Two days later Jason came over and slammed an energy drink on the table near my computer and said this is what killed Drew. You'll find out."
Shocked, this distraught mom took action. Searching the internet, she found articles on other teens that had adverse reactions to energy drinks. She called the ME, who, she says, confirmed her growing suspicion by phone. “He said taking into consideration the amount of caffeine he consumed, I would say caffeine played a large part in your son's death."
- 3 votes
#1 - Tue May 25, 2010 6:03 PM EDTThis is such horrific story and I have wondered if these drinks would cause problems. We used to do the no-doz in our youth and after a couple of episodes of the jitters and feeling like crap I decided I'd take my chances in staying awake and if I couldn't I'd find a motel. However, overdosing on caffeine is a shame and should not be an issue. I've never tried any of the energy drinks due to non-interest and the amount to caffeine in the drinks. I drink a 5 shot espresso every morning and it doesn't leave me jittery but if I did another one in the afternoon I'd feel horrible. So, who knows how long one dose of caffeine stays in the body? I guess I have some Googling to do. Thanks for the seed maddad.
- 2 votes
I was hooked on them for a while. They can be quite addicting just as any other substance. I do not let my daughter drink them at all. In the state of Deleware you must be at least 18 years old to purchase one. I do agree they should be regulated like alcohol.
- 1 vote
#2 - Wed May 26, 2010 9:49 AM EDTCaffiene is a drug. Just because something is legal does not make it safe to overindulge. I don't agree with more regulation . I think people should have more sense.
- 1 vote
#3 - Wed May 26, 2010 11:21 AM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
