Caffeinated Beverages and Adolescents

Consumption of coffee, energy drinks, and other high caffeine content drinks, by children and adolescents, is on the rise. Although there has been an increase in caffeine consumption there is still a lack of research and knowledge about how these beverages effect sleep, mood, and performance. Dr. Owens a pediatrician and sleep medicine specialist at Children’s National Health System has recently reviewed some of these effects of caffeine.

The availability of caffeinated beverages has grown, causing an increase in consumption among children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are using energy drinks to gain alertness. In this article, Dr. Owens states that further research needs to be done on this topic before any definitive answers can be given about the impact of caffeine on the pediatric population. Dr. Owens suggests more research in the area of why children and adolescents are choosing to consume caffeinated beverages along with how much they are consuming. Finally, Dr. Owens suggests that educating children and adolescents about the risks of caffeine use may be helpful in decreasing the use of caffeine among the pediatric population.