Adolescents and Stimulant Drinks: The Implications of Popular Stimulant Drinks and Nutritional Supplements on Adolescent Development

Energy drinks and nutritional supplements give humans the ability to over-compensate at maximum capacity. Adolescents and young adults use stimulant drinks such as caffeinated soft drinks, energy drinks and other nutritional supplements to provide the energy to keep up with the fast-paced society of today. Many adolescents depend on energy drinks and nutritional supplements to give them the energy to get through the day. Long-term use of energy drinks and nutritional supplements creates a host of problems. This literature review will dissertate contributing factors and consider consequences in adolescent use of popular stimulant drinks and nutritional supplements on adolescent development. Alfred Adler’s theories will be explored in relation to energy drink and supplement use and the impact among adolescents and adolescent development. ADOLESCENTS AND STIMULANT DRINKS 3 Adolescents and Stimulant Drinks: The Implications of Popular Stimulant Drinks and Nutritional Supplements on Adolescent Development The 21 st century provides countless innovative technologies and superior means of living, resulting in an extended life span (Beland & Kapes, 2003). To maintain the fast pace and status quo, people often do not have sufficient time in one day to complete all tasks (DeGreeff, Burnett & Cooley, 2010). For that reason, adults turn to caffeine and energy drinks to gain more hours of productivity with fewer hours of sleep (Howard & Marczinski, 2010). Bandura, a groundbreaking contributor to the field of psychology, hypothesized that adolescents observe, learn, and behave in the same way as they have in the past, by modeling adult behavior (Crain, 2010). As modeled by adults, adolescents of the 21 st century consume energy drinks and caffeinated beverages to keep up with the fast-paced society of today (Howard & Marczinski, 2010). But, what are the effects of the use of energy drinks and caffeine on the adults of the future? Purpose of the Review This literature review will examine contributing factors and consider consequences in the use of popular stimulant drinks and nutritional supplements by adolescents. The information amassed in this review will provide the reader with an ample valuation of the need for regulation of popular stimulant drinks and nutritional supplements among adolescents. Upon completion of the review, the reader will be able to identify the positive and negative consequences of stimulant drinks and nutritional supplements on adolescents today. The reader will also be better equipped to develop an action plan, if necessary, to prevent and treat long-term effects of consumption. ADOLESCENTS AND STIMULANT DRINKS 4 Categories and Marketing Focus of Stimulant Drinks and Supplements Health Education Research published an article entitled, “Consumption of Nutritional Supplements Among Adolescents: Usage and Perceived Benefits,” in which Jennifer O’Dea (2003) defined different categories of nutritional supplements, their usage, and perceived benefits among adolescents. In the results of this study, adolescents participated in the use of sports drinks, vitamin and mineral tablets, energy drinks, herbal supplements, Guarana, Creatine, high protein milk supplements, and coenzyme Q10. Depending on the choice of supplement used, adolescents purported a variety of reasons for usage: to promote better health, prevent illnesses, and do something positive for themselves. In addition, adolescents admitted using supplements for taste, to quench thirst, to improve sports performance, as a substitution for soft drinks, and for stimulant and ergogenic effects (O’Dea, 2003).