Myth Busters: Some Legal Substances

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:05

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Find out more about what's in energy drinks and "herbal highs", and how they can affect you.

Energy Drinks + Shots

Energy drinks are becoming more and more common in New Zealand, with lots of different brands to choose from. They have a number of different ingredients in them such as taurine, ginkgo and acai berries. Companies that make these energy drinks say that these ingredients are beneficial to your health and will keep you alert and energised throughout the day. However there is not much evidence to say that these ingredients have any effect at all and if anything they may actually be bad for your health. Gaurana is one of the main ingredients in these drinks and contains very high levels of caffeine. However because energy drinks contain all of the extra ingredients they are worse for your health than a good old cup of coffee.

It can be said that the main effect of the energy drink is to provide an energy burst that will help keep you focused and energised throughout the day. However this comes at a cost in the sense that these drinks are loaded with sugar and other ingredients that may be harmful for your health.

In low to moderate doses, caffeine can help with alertness and endurance, but in larger doses it can have quite negative side effects such as shaking, nausea, high blood pressure and may create problems with the rhythm of your heart. Some people say that if you drink alcohol and caffeine at the same time you may not feel as drunk. However just because you do not feel drunk does not mean that your mind and coordination is not impaired. Remember that it is best not to drink any alcohol at all if you are planning on getting behind the wheel. However one should always be aware of the legal alcohol blood limits and you can click here for more information about these.
Some energy drinks like Red Bull and V contain about as much or less caffeine in each can or bottle as a cup of brewed coffee. Others like Mother and Demon have more caffeine in them and are equivalent to one and a half cups of coffee per can. However you must remember that caffeine is not the only ingredient in these drinks and some of these other ingredients may be harmful to your health.

A new product to have come out recently are the energy shots and these can contain about twice as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, and are a lot smaller and easier to drink quickly. Drinking a few of these in a short period of time can be quite dangerous, and it can be really easy to overdo caffeine when it’s so concentrated, so it’s important to check the label and make sure you drink under the recommended amount per day (which should be listed on the drink). Drinking too much of these can actually make it harder to concentrate and you may get the shakes and find it hard to fall asleep.

“Herbal Highs”

Some herbal substances that are used recreationally are available legally in New Zealand. This means they have not been controlled under the law; it doesn’t mean that they are proven safe (‘natural’ doesn’t mean ‘safe’!). Some common herbal highs are salvia and kava. Salvia is one of the most commonly used herbal highs, producing a short but intense episode of mental and physical effects when smoked.

Another category of legal highs that are not herbal at all are products such as “Kronic,” “Aroma,” “Spice,” “Dream” and “Illusion.” These products claim to provide a legal and natural alternative to cannabis. However, what you need to know about these products is that they contain synthetic chemicals to give them their effects and these chemicals have not been tested and their harms on the body are largely unknown.

The main problem with substances claimed to be herbal highs is that we know so little about their risks. They aren’t quality controlled, so the amount of the active chemical that gives the ‘high’ feeling can vary heaps. Also, there are usually other chemicals in varying amounts, many of which have unknown effects and risks. Many herbal chemicals (such as in the herb datura) can be poisonous and it can be easy to accidentally overdose.

It is difficult to know how much is a dangerous amount when we know so little about the substance quality, how it affects users in the long term, or how the effects change when used in combination with other substances like alcohol. Every person is very different, so a ‘safe’ dose for one person may cause very bad symptoms in someone else. People have been hospitalised after using herbal substances alone or with other substances, so there are certainly risks to watch out for.

These substances often leave users incapable of interacting with other people as well as the environment surrounding them. So if you are to try some of these substances you should do so in a safe environment that you are familiar with and have a sober person looking out for you. The safest option is always to avoid these substances completely. However if you decide to use them then you must do so responsibly and know what substances are being taken so you can tell the doctor in case someone has a bad reaction.