By Anonymous 

Publié le 16 juin 2026

Have you heard of the new energy drink now available in Quebec, Alani Nu? Cheap, colourful, and easy to find everywhere. It seems harmless. Yet, this can has already been associated with the death of a 17-year-old girl. 

Caffeine in energy drinks blocks adenosine, the chemical responsible for fatigue, stimulating the nervous system and increasing the release of catecholamines, hormones linked to energy.  

Although people consume those drinks to escape tiredness, they underestimate their dangers, which is why people should avoid consuming energy drinks altogether. 

To begin, energy drinks are dangerous because they can cause cardiovascular problems. Drinking them triggers the release of catecholamines. These substances have a cardio-stimulatory effect, often perceived as temporary irregular palpitations (tachycardia). Consequently, in the long term, it can perturb the heart’s electrical system and lead to an arrhythmia. Moreover, if this arrhythmia starts in the ventricles, it becomes a ventricular tachycardia, a dangerous condition that can reduce blood circulation and lead to serious complications such as cardiac arrest and sometimes death. Also, risks of arrhythmia are higher for people who have structural heart conditions, although they are often undiagnosed. It was the case of Zachary Mitchell, a 21-year-old man with an undetected heart defect who died after an energy drink triggered an arrhythmia. 

Furthermore, energy drinks are dangerous because they can interact with medications, especially when stimulants are combined with psychostimulants. The pharmacist Elliott Doyle1 explains this drug combination creates a synergistic effect: “Sometimes, with stimulants like caffeine and psychostimulants, their effects do not just add up; they multiply. [...] One plus one does not equal two; one plus one equals five.” [Translation] He adds that dangers come from the amplification of effects and side effects, particularly at the cardiac level. He illustrates his point with the case of Zachary Miron, who died after an interaction between methylphenidate (Biphentin2) and caffeine from a Red Bull, which overloaded his heart and caused an arrhythmia. However, he specifies that other medications such as the methylphenidate (Ritalin, Biphentin, Concerta and Foquest) and amphetamine (Adderall, Dextroamphetamine and Vyvanse) and antipsychotics can lead to dangerous conditions, including death.  

Considering that 16% of teenagers in Quebec are taking medication for ADHD, this danger is real.I realized through my personal experience that energy drinks are dangerous, very dangerous. 

One month ago, in March 2026, my friend died.

I will always remember the call we received at 3:51 am to tell us about his death. My friend had drunk an energy drink that night. Investigators suggest a possible link with the energy drink, but they are still examining the cause of the death. My friend was young and healthy, he had his entire life in front of him. However, we always tell ourselves, “It will not happen to me,” but what do you know about that? You should never wait for the worst before acting. My life changed over one can, the life of the family of my friend changed over one can, and nothing can fill the empty space his death made.  

Energy drinks are dangerous. And you must absolutely avoid consuming them. I am scared. You should be too, because in your coffin you will not be able to say: “I should have...” 

Energy drinks are dangerous. And people should avoid consuming them because they can cause serious cardiovascular problems and interact with medications.  

The next time you want to drink that venom, think twice, because if you take flight, we will never be able to cut off your wings. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Energy Drink contributed to 17-year-old cheerleader’s death, say U.S. lawsuit — April 10, 2026 — A 17-year-old girl died after consuming high quantities of caffeine from energy drinks and her family is now pursuing legal action against the company.  

The Dark Side of Energy Drinks: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on the Human Body - PMC — September 9, 2023 — 4.1 Effects on the Cardiovascular System: Energy drinks and caffeine can stimulate the cardiovascular system, increasing heart rate and stress hormones, and in some cases leading to serious conditions such as arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and sudden death, especially for people with heart conditions.  

What are catecholamines, and what do they do? — Updated on November 5, 2025 — Catecholamines are a group of hormones, including adrenaline, noradreline and dopamine, released during stressed that trigger the “fight-or-flight" response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and energy levels. 

Maladies cardiovasculaires Arythmies cardiaques — 2024 — A cardiac arrhythmia is a rhythm trouble caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical activity, which can make it beat too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. 

Maladies cardiovasculaires Tachycardie ventriculaire (TV) — 2024 — Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia (more than 100 beat per minute) that begins in the ventricles and makes the heart’s contractions disorganized and less effective, which can impair blood circulation.  

Question Period Note: CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS — November 29, 2019 — Zachary Mitchel, a man aged 21, died by drowning in 2016 after contracting an arrhythmia linked to a pre-existing genetic condition combined with the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks. 

Red Bull et Biphentin, un cocktail qui peut tuer — December 11, 2025 — A 15-year-old man named Zachary Miron died, in 2024, after drinking a Red Bull combined with Biphentin. 

Les élèves du secondaire se portent moins bien qu’avant sur le plan psychologique — 2025 — In Quebec, around 25% of high school students are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, and it is approximately 16% who take medication to treat this condition, with a higher proportion of boys than girls.