By 
On April 26, 16-year-old Davis Allen Cripe of Chapin, South Carolina, died in the hospital after suddenly collapsing in class at his high school. At the time, the cause of death was unknown and pending a full coronary report. Of course, when an otherwise seemingly healthy teen suddenly dies, people often assume that drugs were involved. But in Davis's case, the cause of death was something that many of us binge drink every day: caffeine.
On May 15th, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts announced that Davis died from drinking a large Mountain Dew, a latte from McDonalds, and an energy drink within the span of two hours, causing his heart to fail.
"Davis was a great kid, and being his parent was a great honor to Heidi and me," Cripe's father, Sean Cripe, said at Monday's press conference, his voice breaking. "He had a personality larger than life and a heart of gold. Davis was known for his love of music, making people laugh, being loud, and handing out hugs every day. He also was known for strongly being against drugs and alcohol and encouraged others to avoid that as well. Like all parents, we worry about our kids as they grow up. We worry about their safety, their health, especially once they start driving. But it wasn't a car crash that took his life, instead it was an energy drink...I stand before you as a broken-hearted father and hope that something good can come from this. Parents: please talk to your kids about the dangers of these energy drinks. And teenagers and students: please stop buying them...They can be very dangerous."
[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/ChapinNews/photos/a.1496813583873642.1073741829.1496808967207437/1950478151840514/?type=3&theater[/facebook]
While most of us consider drinking caffeine to be a relatively harmless habit, caffeine is considered a highly addictive drug in science circles. In a 1994 study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, research confirmed that caffeine was just as addictive for some people as cigarettes, alcohol, or serious drugs.
"Caffeine is the world's most widely used mind-altering drug," researcher Dr. Roland Griffiths said.
And while caffeine overdoses are relatively rare, they have happened in the past, and there's no definitive conclusion on how much you would have to drink for it to become fatal.
You don't have to give up your Starbucks altogether, but please remember to be careful and consume in moderation. It might look like fun in a sitcom, but drinking coffee like Lorelai Gilmore could have tragic consequences in real life, as this heartbreaking story shows.
