By Tanveer Mann From Metro.co.uk

It might have seemed pretty harmless downing a load of energy drinks before your Chemistry exam.

It got you through that all-nighter so it did the job..right?

Well, turns out you’re more likely to develop a cocaine addiction if you’re one of the many who regularly consume energy drinks.

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According to a new study, one third of students who go to university and habitually consume energy drinks are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol when they’re older.

The study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, also found that one third of American students attending university ended up becoming cocaine addicts or develop abuse problems with alcohol.

Regularly drinking energy drinks can lead to cocaine addiction, study finds

Researchers from the University of Maryland looked at 1,099 college students over a four year study period for this study and analysed the health and habits of them.

They found that those students who regularly drank large amounts of caffeinated drinks had a greater chance of becoming addicted to cocaine, alcohol, or other illicit substances later compared to students who did not consume these drinks.

Lead author of the study, Amelia Arria, who is also an associate professor, explained that this study is one of the first to connect the contribution of these energy drink consumptions with abuse liability and quantify it.

The results showed that 51% of the students remained on a ‘persistent trajectory’, which means their energy drink consumption remained steady.

While 17.4% were in the ‘intermediate trajectory’, which means they are at risk of using cocaine because of their high energy drink consumption.

This was compared to the 20.6% in the ‘non-use trajectory’ group, who did not use caffeinated drinks at all.

This group was found to show no higher risk for any substance abuse.

Yet the study could not establish the reason for connecting the two together.

It suggested the possibility that those who consume more energy drinks are more easily succumbing to peer pressure or have higher risk-taking behaviours.

The study also warned that because of this trend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) need to impose caffeine limits on certain energy drinks.

Warnings should also be placed on labels to deter heavy use of energy drinks.

Despite this study, experts say it should not be taken as the answer to cocaine addiction as energy drinks have been studied widely and have been found safe for consumption.

IMAGES:
Regularly drinking energy drinks can lead to cocaine addiction, study finds
(Picture: Getty)
Researchers from the University of Maryland looked at 1,099 college students over a four year study period for this study and analysed the health and habits of them. (Picture: Getty)
Turns out you’re more likely to develop a cocaine addiction if you regularly consume energy drinks. (Picture: Shutterstock)

For more on this story go to: http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/16/regularly-drinking-energy-drinks-can-lead-to-cocaine-addiction-study-finds-6855830/#ixzz4pwabGXwx