Excelsior Springs Standard

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Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar are some of the many popular energy drinks available at most, if not all, convenience stores. And though many people assume energy drinks are equivalent to a caffeinated beverage, more and more research is being released that shows the harmful effects of energy drinks on children and teens. “Adolescents who have been consuming caffeinated products for less time than adults are prime candidates to experience adverse health effects,” according to the article “Energy Drinks: A New Health Hazard for Adolescents” in the Journal of School Nursing. This is due to adolescents’ caffeine tolerance not being as high compared to some adults who have been consuming caffeine for longer, according to the article. An increase of students coming into the nurse’s office in Excelsior Springs schools complaining of headache, heart acceleration, feeling jittery and chest pain caused by energy drinks is what sparked Marilyn Lynch, district nurse, to conduct energy drink research earlier this year. To really solidify awareness in the community on the side effects of energy drinks, Excelsior Springs SAFE (Supporting Abuse Free Environment) is hosting “Buzz in a Bottle,” with the speaker being energy drink expert, Excelsior Springs native and Oklahoma State University Professor Conrad Woolsey, this Thursday. Woolsey has specifically examined college students to see if they showed risk-taking behaviors and negative health consequences from combining an energy drink and alcohol. Earlier this year he was the keynote speaker at the American College of Sports Medicine Regional Conference and at the Oklahoma Coalition of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Conference. In his paper “Energy drinks: Juiced up jolts or risky sips?” Woolsey cited research that found “that adolescents and young adults (those under age 25) are more vulnerable to addiction, due to incomplete development of the memory and pleasure reward centers of the brain.” And since research shows that 31 percent of energy drink consumers are between the ages of 12 and 17, according to Human Relations Media, whose program “Buzz in a Bottle: The Dangers of Caffeine-Spike Energy Drinks” is being implemented in the school district, awareness is being raised on the subject. “Buzz in a Bottle” will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, with a free Wabash BBQ dinner followed by Woolsey’s energy drink presentation at 7 p.m. Childcare will be provided. To make reservations call Laura Bruce at (816) 877-0498 or e-mail her at laurab@tri-countymhs.org. Elkhorn announces monthly awards Pictured above, from left, are the August/September Students of the Month at Elkhon Elementary. Front row: Emma Visnich, Rachel Davis, Annalise Selby and Isabella Selby. Second row: Alissa Dunkin, Kendall Herd, Keltin Hill and Jackson Love. Back row, Jose Hernandez, Natalie Fugate, Clayton Ford and Cheyenne Stevens. Students who received Perfect Attendance awards are listed in theTuesday, Oct. 12, Standard. (Photo by Kristin Rulon) MoChip comes to Excelsior Saturday The Missouri Masonic Children’s Foundation, Clay Lodge #207, are bringing the MoChip Child ID program to Excelsior Springs this week. From 10 a.m.

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