title: Energy drink consumption among young Australian adults: associations with alcohol and illicit drug use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular among young people. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of energy drink consumption and its associations with socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol, cigarette and illicit drug use in a population-based sample of young adults participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used self-administered questionnaires to assess energy drink consumption patterns, alcohol intake, cigarette and illicit drug use at the 20-year cohort follow-up. Data was also collected on socio-demographics, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake. Our sample included 1234 participants (47% male, mean age 20 ± 0.5 years). We considered energy-drink consumption as a categorical (users versus non-users) variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 48% of participants consumed energy drinks at least once per month, with an average intake of 1.31 ± 0.75 cans per day amongst energy drink users. The most significant correlates of energy drink use were being in part-time or full-time employment, being male, being a cigarette smoker, having heavier alcoholic spirit consumption patterns and being an ecstasy user (all p<0.05). No significant associations were observed with BMI or dietary intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Australian energy drink users tend to have heavier alcohol consumption patterns be a cigarette smoker and use illicit drugs relative to non-users. More research is needed regarding the health risks associated with energy drink use in young adults, including their possible role in the development of substance abuse problems.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia. Electronic address: gtrapp@ichr.uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Georgina S A
authors.initials: GSA
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia, M304, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Karina L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia; School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacoby
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oddy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Adolescent health; Caffeine; Energy drinks; Raine Study; Stimulants