Utah County Substance Abuse representatives are speaking out about the dangers of swigging too many energy drinks. Young drivers getting arrested for driving under the influence by drinking too many is no longer an uncommon occurrence in Utah County.

"I don't think they are healthy for the nation," said UCSA research analyst Kye Nordfelt. "Just like everything there needs to be moderation."

A teenager failed a field sobriety in Lehi, but the officer could not smell alcohol on him. The culprit substance impairing the driver was an energy drink. With large amounts of caffeine as an ingredient, he had consumed in excess of what his body could handle.

"We see it's (affecting) youth," said Lehi Police Officer Bill Loveridge at the Thursday evening UCSA energy drink presentation. "They don't realize drinking that excessive amount will impair them and they shouldn't be driving."

He has arrested several over the years who have used over-the-counter stimulants such as energy drinks, he said. Utah law is pretty specific, he said, as long as you are impaired you can be arrested for DUI. A DUI arrest becomes a permanent mark on a driver's record, and whether because of a beer or an energy drink, it's a full-fledged DUI, he said during the Lehi Community Council presentation.

Nordfelt said his division is trying to educate the public about the effects energy drinks can have on people. Considered the county's local substance abuse authority, the division is responsible for prevention, treatment and early intervention programs for both youth and adults in Utah County.

Health officials recommend no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine consumed a day, he said. Coke has 31 mg of caffeine, while energy drink Full Throttle is the equivalent of 3.5 cans of Coke with 108 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks Monster and Rockstar each contain 120 mg of the stimulant while Wired has 264 mg, or the caffeine equivalent of 16 cans of Coke.

"The key is high quantities," Nordfelt said. "That is when the youth start feeling the real energy, the excitement, the high."

Misuse of energy drinks can lead to a legal high, insomnia and heart arrhythmia, or an irregular heart beat.

"That is something we need to be concerned about," he said. "Something we need to be aware of is this consumption is unhealthy."

Loveridge has seen kids mixing energy drinks with a stimulant like NoDoz or ephedra, and said it was because the combination mimics a high similar to methamphetamine use. There are also energy drinks premixed with as much alcohol as a beer contains. Energy drinks are marketed to appeal to young people with sex, drugs and rock and roll themes, he said, adding that the ones in Utah County being heavily consumed are the rock and roll themed drinks.

Nordfelt said his UCSA office, a division of the Utah County Health Department, doesn't want to create the impression that energy drinks are bad, but that its users need to exercise moderation, adding that each person reacts differently to energy drink consumption.

For some consumers, drinking two energy drinks wouldn't faze them. For others, the same amount would have them bouncing off the walls. He said energy drinks can be harmful to youth.

"We don't want to send a message that each kid who is consuming a Red Bull or Full Throttle or Monster is getting a legal high," said Nordfelt. "We're not saying that."

• Cathy Allred can be reached at heraldextra@digis.net.

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