As of March 2025, the sales of energy drinks to minors will be prohibited. The debate over energy drinks has been going on for many years, some considering them harmful, while others seeing the benefits. Olga Filatova, Professor of the Department of Zoology and Physiology, Doctor of Biological Sciences, explained how energy drinks affect the body and whether they cause addiction.
As Olga Filatova notes, energy drinks have an invigorating effect due to caffeine and other tonic substances:
“Caffeine is the most common psychoactive substance in the world. It can enhance the effect of other components included in the energy drink – extracts of guarana, ginseng, and others. The result is a synergistic effect – together these components act stronger than separately. Caffeine interacts with adenosine receptors sensitive to adenosine – an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Essentially, caffeine blocks their action, and the person feels fresh."
An energy drink has a powerful but short-term effect. The potent boost from energy drinks is followed by an emotional and physical slump. It creates a cycle of dependence as an individual seeks to recapture the initial high.
"Like all psychoactive substances, including caffeine, energy drinks induce tolerance. Prolonged caffeine consumption prompts the body to produce more adenosine receptors to compensate. It necessitates increased doses to achieve the desired effect. Failure to increase dosage leads to withdrawal symptoms, or, more simply, "withdrawal", including headaches, irritability, low mood, drowsiness, and impaired concentration and low performance. The mechanism is similar to drug addiction, as caffeine, like drugs, interacts with opiate receptors. Let me explain briefly: our endogenous "drugs" – endorphins – are produced by the body itself. These are chemical substances are natural painkillers and mood elevators. Endorphins are produced in the hypothalamus in response to stress, pain, and intense physical activity. One endorphin molecule is 200 times more effective than a morphine molecule. Drug use affects opiate receptors. External substances trigger a positive feedback loop, which leads to reducing the body’s natural endorphin production. Therefore, when a person stops using them, he experiences withdrawal symptoms," the professor said.
As alternatives to energy drinks, Olga Filatova recommends a healthy lifestyle, proper work and rest regime, balanced nutrition, and taking vitamin and mineral complexes.