Adolescents should avoid long-term and excessive consumption of drinks such as Red Bull, coffee, and cola.
Recently, media widely reported that Red Bull Cola and Red Bull energy drinks, produced in Austria, were found to contain trace amounts of cocaine in Germany and Taiwan, respectively. As a result, they have been banned from sale in some parts of Germany and in Taiwan.
"Since 2008, Mainland China has not imported pre-packaged Red Bull Cola or Red Bull functional beverages for commercial sale." Nevertheless, Red Bull, as a typical representative of energy drinks, has once again attracted significant public attention. In response, experts pointed out that if it contains cocaine, it must not be consumed. If it only contains caffeine, consumption should be moderate, and long-term excessive intake should be avoided.
The energizing effect is mainly due to caffeine
He Rihui, Director of the Adolescent Addiction Treatment Center at the Guangdong Provincial Corps Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, explained: "As an energy drink, Red Bull has an energizing effect mainly because it contains caffeine. If it is confirmed to also contain cocaine, it must absolutely not be consumed, because even though the cocaine content is low, it is still a narcotic, and long-term consumption is definitely harmful to the body."
He explained that caffeine is completely different from cocaine. Caffeine is an additive found in many beverages and foods, including common ones like cola, Red Bull, coffee, tea, and chocolate, all of which contain it to varying degrees. "Caffeine has an excitatory effect on the central nervous system, heart, and skeletal muscles, especially a direct stimulant effect on the cerebral cortex. A small dose (50-200mg) can eliminate drowsiness and improve work efficiency; however, a large dose (over 200mg) can cause symptoms such as irritability, tension, tremors, insomnia, and headaches, and long-term use can lead to addiction."
Adolescents should moderate their consumption
Experts stated that, in theory, if several bottles of stimulant energy drinks are consumed daily, the caffeine level can reach a certain threshold. Over time, significant side effects may appear, increasing the risk of inducing heart disease or hypertension, and even leading to addiction.
"We have treated 5 cases of cola addiction and 2 cases of Red Bull addiction. In severe cases, patients even developed psychiatric disorders, including symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Moreover, excessive caffeine intake can also reduce calcium absorption, affecting the physical development of adolescents." Additionally, he mentioned that a large intake of caffeine can also increase sexual impulses, and he had once treated a patient with sex addiction.
"Energy drinks containing stimulants are not off-limits, but it is crucial to strictly control the amount consumed." He Rihui recommends that adolescents should best avoid long-term and excessive consumption of drinks like Red Bull, coffee, and cola.