At Morgan, you can not walk into school without seeing at least three drinks from Starbucks and many more energy drinks. A study by Mayo Clinic found that 83% of teens’, ages 13-18, consume caffeine regularly, and 96% drink it semi-regularly. At the college level, according to Grand Canyon University, college students spend on average $100 a month on coffee alone.

Morgan staff have seen a rise in caffeine use at Morgan, including Amy Morrissey, a main office administrative assistant here at Morgan. She shared, “I think energy drinks and Starbucks are pretty prevalent here.” She continued on by saying that students will ask her to go out to their cars just to grab energy drinks. Morrissey shared, “I personally love my morning coffee, and I drink way too much of it, but I think for kids of the high school age, I’m opposed to it,” and, “it becomes somewhat of an addiction.”

Caffeine is a stimulant. It affects the brain and body by increasing energy levels, alertness, and cognitive function. Along with that, it also has negative effects, some of which include anxiety, jitteriness, and insomnia.

Sophomore Taylor Breen, a student at Morgan who often drinks caffeine, shared, “I enjoy Starbucks and Celsius, but I have tried to start drinking them [Celsius] less because they often make me shaky, and I don’t like that.” She shared that she has spent over $200 on Starbucks in the last three months.

In the brain, caffeine blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that is meant to slow down brain activity. The caffeine blocking it leads to alertness and wakefulness. Caffeine also increases the amount of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with a persons’ mood, released causing for a change of someone’s behavior. It also causes severe anxiety in some drinkers due to the stimulating effect. When someone becomes dependent on caffeine, withdrawals can happen, leading to high levels of fatigue and headaches.

In the body, caffeine increases cardiovascular activity. This can be a big concern for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Some people also experience upset stomachs after the consumption of caffeine.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, teens should not be drinking energy drinks due to the high levels of caffeine that they contain, and it can be unsafe for children ages 12-18 due to their brain still being a key developmental stage.

Though caffeine consumption hasn’t significantly increased, the way they get caffeine has changed. The National Library of Medicine said that traditional sources of caffeine like soda are declining, while energy drinks are rising. These newer sources often contain higher amounts of caffeine and are marketed in a way that appeals to younger audiences.

The National Library of Medicine also said that social media is growing, and caffeine consumption has been said to be linked with it. With advertisements being all over social media, whether that be a traditional ad or someone’s favorite influencer, the exposure to the drinks have increased and have become more wanted.

Several energy drinks have been repeatedly marketed as healthy. Popular brands like Celsius market on the bottle their drink as a fitness drink that helps the metabolism and burning fat, putting sayings like, “Celsius provides essential energy to live fit” on the bottle. In reality, they contain 200mg of caffeine, which is double the recommended amount for teenagers.

Another popular brand, Alani Nu, markets their products as a healthy and wellness brand. They focus on being a low calorie and a “better-for-you” drink. The energy drinks also contain 200mg of caffeine and have artificial sweeteners and sodium.

Influencers like Devon Windsor, Emily Tanner, and Erika Wheaton have promoted Celsius, which has led to controversy regarding disclosure of sponsored posts. Payments of the influencers are based on how much influence they will have on promoting the brand. It can range from a few dollars to over $10,000 per post on social media platforms.

Breen shared, “I know caffeine is awful for you, but I don’t know why I continue to drink it. I really enjoy the taste and walking around with it all day. I think that is also the case for other students.”

At Morgan, it states in the hand book that students can only have water with them throughout the day. This rule has not been highly enforced. It also says that if students come in late with a drink or food, they must leave it in the front office until their lunch period.

While a simple Starbucks or an energy drink may seem harmless, it is worth thinking about and knowing what you are putting into your body.