Upward trend in the consumption of energy drinks among Cuban medical students

Abstract

The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) has increased globally, especially among medical students, who rely on caffeine to stay alert during demanding academic periods. This letter to the editor highlights that, although international studies document this phenomenon and its risks—such as anxiety, palpitations, ventricular arrhythmias, insulin resistance, and pathophysiological similarities to cocaine abuse—no research has been conducted on this topic in the Cuban context. The authors emphasize that medical students in Cuba are subjected to a heavy academic workload and stress, making them vulnerable to problematic ED use. The lack of Cuban data hinders the design of effective prevention campaigns tailored to the local context, as strategies based on international populations with different consumption patterns and cultural contexts may be ineffective. Furthermore, they warn that, without early intervention, ED use tends to intensify throughout medical school and persist into professional life. The urgent need to generate local evidence is paramount to prevent this practice from becoming entrenched and harming the health of future Cuban doctors. Inaction, they conclude, is not neutral; rather, it allows the problem to worsen.