School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2012 Nov;36(11):2008-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01820.x. Epub 2012 Aug 15.
The increasingly popular practice among adolescents and young adults of consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) has raised concern regarding potential increases in maladaptive drinking practices, negative psychological and physiological intoxication side effects, and risky behavioral outcomes. Comparison of user types has revealed that AmED users report engaging in more risk-taking behavior relative to alcohol users. However, the comparative likelihood of risk-taking according to session type (i.e., AmED vs. alcohol session) remains relatively unknown. Thus, this study was designed with the aim of establishing the subjective physiological, psychological, and behavioral risk-taking outcomes of AmED consumption relative to alcohol consumption for AmED users drawn from the community.
Between May and June 2011, 403 Australians aged 18 to 35 who had consumed AmED and alcohol only in the preceding 6 months completed a 10- to 30-minute online survey about their use of these substances.
Despite participants consuming a significantly greater quantity of alcohol in AmED sessions compared to alcohol sessions, the odds of participants experiencing disinhibition and engaging in 26 risk behaviors were significantly lower during AmED sessions relative to alcohol sessions. Similarly, the odds of experiencing several physiological (i.e., speech and walking difficulties, nausea, and slurred speech) and psychological (i.e., confusion, exhaustion, sadness) sedation outcomes were less during AmED sessions compared to alcohol sessions. However, the odds of enduring physiological (i.e., heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, agitation, tremors, jolt and crash episodes, and increased speech speed) and psychological (i.e., irritability and tension) outcomes potentially related to overstimulation were significantly greater during AmED sessions than alcohol sessions.
Co-ingestion may provide a double-edged effect. The increased stimulation from energy drinks (EDs) may negate some intoxication-related sedation side effects by increasing alertness. However, it could also lead to negative physiological side effects associated with overstimulation. Notwithstanding any stimulatory effects of EDs, risk and negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption were present in both session types. However, the odds of engaging in risk-taking were less during AmED sessions relative to alcohol sessions. Objective measurement of behavioral risk-taking via laboratory-based measures could confirm the causal relationship between AmED and risk-taking.
青少年和年轻人越来越流行将酒精与能量饮料混合饮用（AmED），这引起了人们对潜在不良饮酒行为、负面心理和生理醉酒副作用以及危险行为后果增加的关注。用户类型的比较表明，与仅饮酒的人相比，AmED 用户报告更多的冒险行为。然而，根据会话类型（即 AmED 与酒精会话）冒险的相对可能性仍相对未知。因此，本研究旨在确定从社区中抽取的 AmED 用户相对于仅饮酒者，在 AmED 消费相对于酒精消费时，主观的生理、心理和行为冒险结果。
2011 年 5 月至 6 月期间，403 名年龄在 18 至 35 岁之间的澳大利亚人在过去 6 个月内仅使用 AmED 和酒精，完成了一项关于他们使用这些物质的 10-30 分钟在线调查。
尽管参与者在 AmED 会话中摄入的酒精量明显多于酒精会话，但与酒精会话相比，参与者在 AmED 会话中经历去抑制和参与 26 种风险行为的可能性显著降低。同样，在 AmED 会话中经历几种生理（即言语和行走困难、恶心和口齿不清）和心理（即困惑、疲惫、悲伤）镇静作用的可能性也低于酒精会话。然而，与酒精会话相比，在 AmED 会话中经历生理（即心悸、睡眠困难、激动、震颤、痉挛和崩溃发作以及言语速度加快）和心理（即易怒和紧张）过度刺激相关的镇静作用的可能性更大。
共摄入可能会产生双重影响。能量饮料（EDs）的增加刺激可能会通过提高警觉性来消除一些与醉酒相关的镇静副作用。然而，它也可能导致与过度刺激相关的负面生理副作用。无论 EDs 有任何刺激作用，两种会话类型都存在过量饮酒的风险和负面影响。然而，与酒精会话相比，在 AmED 会话中冒险的可能性较小。通过基于实验室的措施客观测量行为冒险，可以确认 AmED 与冒险之间的因果关系。
