Paris Independent School District

Paris EMS visited Paris Junior High on Wednesday to speak with athletic classes about the potential health risks associated with energy drink consumption, particularly for young athletes.

The presentation was organized by the school’s FPS community team as part of its ongoing effort to raise awareness about how energy drinks can affect developing bodies. The Hype Hazard team is made up of Emma Donnan, Amelia Elliott, Kennedy Moore, Clara Schmidt, and Anna Echols.

Athletic Director Heather Hohenberger praised the students for taking initiative on an issue she sees frequently among young athletes. “I am so glad to see these girls taking action,” Hohenberger said. “Most athletes aren’t aware of the harm these things are doing to them, and they drink them all the time.”

More than 200 middle school male athletes attended the presentation, many of whom left with a new perspective on how energy drinks affect both the body and brain.

Several students reflected on the neurological impact discussed during the presentation. “Energy drinks can affect the brain,” said baseball player Harper Putnam. “The teen years are when our brains do most of our development, and it’s crazy that energy drinks are what we’d give our bodies as nutrients during that time.”

Coaches in attendance also highlighted the effectiveness of the presentation and the level of student engagement. “It was very informative and hands-on,” basketball coach Da’on Savage said. “The boys were engaged and learned a lot. We appreciate our former Wildcat for coming back to educate them.”

As the presentation continued, students began connecting the information to serious health outcomes. “Energy drinks result in a chance of multiple different heart disorders that could result fatally,” seventh grader Krish Bacharanianda said. “Why risk your own life for a miniscule boost to your daily life?”

Others echoed concerns about heart health. “I learned today that if you drink too many energy drinks, you can go into cardiac arrest,” said track and football athlete Kyncaid Cary. Similarly, eighth grader BJ Frazier shared, “I learned that caffeine can cause heart arrhythmias and make you really ill.”

For some athletes, the information was eye-opening. “I had no idea they were so bad for me,” track and soccer player Cannon Amis said. “I learned that caffeine can cause diabetes and heart failure, which could also lead to death.”

Football and soccer player Allan Castillo reflected on how misleading marketing can be. “Energy drinks are not as good as the label leads you to believe,” Castillo said. “I learned they can do things inside your body that cause you to bleed out. It only takes six to seven minutes, and oftentimes a paramedic can’t even get to you that fast.”

Other students emphasized how long-lasting the effects can be. “I don’t think most people drinking these things realize the dangers,” track athlete Anastacio Bridges said. “The speaker showed us that what enters your body stays in your body.”

Paris EMS paramedic and 2019 Paris High School graduate Alan Garcia reinforced the importance of caution, especially during adolescence. “There is so much already changing in young people’s bodies,” Garcia said. “It’s easy to just grab some caffeine, but there are a lot of physical health effects I don’t think many students were aware of.”

Garcia also explained that energy drinks act as a diuretic, meaning they dehydrate the body—an especially dangerous effect for student athletes.

Several students shared personal takeaways from the presentation. “Energy drinks make me get migraines,” football player Alfred Whetstone said. “They don’t make me play better. After this presentation, I can see why I should just drink a sports drink instead.”

The FPS community team encourages students, parents, and community members to continue thinking before they drink. Follow the team on Instagram for updates and information at @hype.hazard.cmps.