A new study examined the trajectories of energy drink (ED) consumption among college students and substance use outcomes at age 25. Participants were 1,099 undergraduate students at one U.S. university who completed a baseline survey before the start of freshman year and at least one annual assessment four to eight years later (n = 863 in final analytic sample; modal ages at follow-up were 21 to 25 years). Measures included past-year ED consumption, other caffeine consumption, past-year alcohol use, DSM-IV criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD), other substance use, and psychological risk factors (impulsive sensation-seeking, behavioral dysregulation, and conduct problems). Participants’ ED consumption frequencies were used to classify them into categories: Frequent (≥52 days), occasional (≥12 days and <52 days), and infrequent (≥1 days and < 12 days) patterns of use. The authors used statistical weights to estimate annual ED consumption prevalence and adjust for attrition and sampling design. The prevalence of ED consumption ranged from 62.5% in Year 4 to 49.1% in Year 8. Infrequent users comprised roughly one-quarter of the sample in any given year, whereas frequent users declined from 11.7% in Year 4 to 5.9% in Year 8. The authors used statistical software to model four trajectories based on the probability of ED consumption. These groups were Non-Use, Persistent (consistently high probability), Intermediate, and Desisting (steadily declining probability). The probability of past-year ED consumption significantly declined over time in the Persistent group (p < 0.003), but not in any other groups. Infrequent users represented substantial proportions of all groups but Non-Use. Moderate and frequent users were more likely to be in the Persistent trajectory group. Males and non-Hispanic Whites were over-represented in the Persistent group and all three psychological risk factors were positively associated with higher probability of ED consumption. At Year 8, AUD risk, cocaine use, and prescription stimulant misuse were significantly associated with ED trajectory group membership, after controlling for potential confounders. Individuals in the Persistent group were at significantly higher risk for AUD, prescription stimulant misuse, and cocaine misuse (all ps < 0.05), compared to non-users. Members of the Desisting group were not found to be at elevated risk for any of the substance use behaviors investigated, relative to non-users.
Take away: In this study, patterns of energy drink (ED) consumption established during college were generally sustained throughout early adulthood. ED consumption trajectories suggest individuals with higher probabilities of using EDs may be at elevated risk for cocaine use, alcohol use disorder, and prescription stimulant misuse.