14-Year-Old Dies from Energy Drink Overdose

A teenage girl from Maryland died after downing two Monster Energy Drinks in a 24-hour period. The energy drinks were consumed over the course of about 18 hours, and together contained 480 milligrams of caffeine (almost five times the recommended caffeine limit from the American Academy of Pediatrics). Caffeine poisoning is not uncommon in the U.S, having increased from barely over a thousand in 2005, to 13,114 in 2009. Nearly half of those reported in 2007 were in people younger than 19. In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers said "The known and unknown pharmacology of agents included in such drinks, combined with reports of toxicity, raises concern for potentially serious adverse effects in association with energy drink use. In the short-term, pediatricans need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks in vulnerable populations and screen for consumption to educate families." For a video report on the incident, visit the Huffington Post.