Energy Drink and Alcohol mixed Energy Drink use among high school adolescents: Association with risk taking behavior, social characteristics. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scalese, Marco; Denoth, Francesca; Siciliano, Valeria; Bastiani, Luca; Cotichini, Rodolfo; Cutilli, Arianna; Molinaro, Sabrina
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 72(2017)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Energy drinks -- Alcohol mixed with energy drinks -- High school students -- Risk taking behavior -- Prevalence; ED Energy Drink -- AmED alcohol mixed with energy drinks -- ESPAD European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs -- CAST Cannabis Abuse Screening Test -- SPIUT Short Problematic Internet Use Test -- CNR National Research Council; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The aims of the study were to: a) examine the prevalence of energy drink (ED) and alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) consumption; b) investigate the relationships between ED and AmED with alcohol, binge drinking and drugs accounting for at risk behaviors among a representative sample of Italian adolescents. Methods: A representative sample of 30, 588 Italian high school students, aged 15–19 years, was studied. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent association of the potential predictors' characteristics with the ED and AmED drinking during the last year. Results: Respectively 41.4% and 23.2% of respondents reported drinking EDs and AmEDs in the last year. Multivariate analysis revealed that consumption of EDs and AmEDs during the last year were significantly associated with daily smoking, binge drinking, use of cannabis and other psychotropic drugs. Among life habits and risky behaviors the following were positively associated: going out with friends for fun, participating in sports, experiencing physical fights/accidents or injury, engaging in sexual intercourse without protection and being involved in accidents while driving. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the popularity of ED and AmED consumption among the Italian school population aged 15–19 years old: 4 out of 10 students consumed EDs in the last year and 2 out of 10 AmED. Multivariate analysis highlighted the association with illicit drug consumption and harming behaviors, confirming that consumption of EDs and AmEDs is a compelling issue especially during adolescence, as it can effect health as well as risk taking behaviors. Highlights: More males than females consume Energy Drink (ED) and mixed with alcohol (AmED) At the multivariate analysis consumption of ED and AmED is significantly positive associated with drugs consumption At the multivariate analysis consumption of ED and AmED is positively associated with daily cigarette smoking At the multivariate analysis consumption of ED and AmED is positively associated with binge drinking At the multivariate analysis consumption of ED and AmED is positively associated with at risk behaviors