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Caffeinated alcoholic drinks may have more dangerous effects than liquor alone
By Staff Writer
 Many states have imposed bans on alcoholic energy drinks such as FourLoko, due to the increasing number of teens and young adults who have been hospitalized for intoxication after consuming them. Now, a recent study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research highlights how caffeinated alcoholic drinks may be more dangerous than those that do not have energy-boosting ingredients. The researchers gave participants beverages that had either alcohol or energy drink alone, a combination of the two or a placebo cocktail. The subjects completed a cognitive test, along with a questionnaire before and after consuming the drinks. The study's results showed that individuals who drank only alcohol had exam scores similar to those of the participants who were given the combination brew. However, the findings also indicated that people who drank the caffeinated alcoholic drink reported higher levels of perceived impairment. The scientists explained that this effect may make the combination beverages more dangerous, since drinkers feel an increased sense of stimulation in addition to impairment to their impulse controls. Adolescents who abuse alcohol may benefit from attending boarding schools that offer troubled teenagers programs.
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