Melbourne, Aug 22 (ANI): In a bid to boost sports performance, children as young as 10 in Australia are consuming drugs and caffeine drinks, a leading expert has warned.

Reports suggest an increased tendency among children of consuming Sudafed, a medicine for cold or the pain-killer Nurofen with high caffeine drinks like Red Bull, V, or Mother.

Children believe this can improve their stamina and prevent injury pains, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Deputy medical director of the NSW Poisons Centre at Westmead Children’s Hospital, Dr Naren Gunja, said the problem was quite acute in private schools.

News.com.au reported Dr Gunja as saying: “In sporting private schools where winning is important people are using and abusing various over the counter drugs.

“Drug abuse happens in teenagers, they are taking things for performance enhancement.

“I don’t know exactly what regime people are on but certainly a couple of Sudafed and wash it down with a bit of Red Bull, have some more Red Bull at half time, that is about it.”

The medic said the combination of Red Bull and Nurofen and its continuous use in sports like rugby, soccer and swimming, could cause stomach ulcers and heartburn.

Dr Gunja said codeine present in Nufrofen could cause kidney disorders.

He said children consume Sudafed to make them more alert but an overdose could cause seizures and raise body temperatures.

Medics Australia paramedics have also expressed their concern over the issue.

A spokesman for Medics Australia said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned by the incidence of children attending their weekend sports matches with caffeine-based drinks

“I would add I am becoming increasingly concerned and equally concerned about the use of proprietary pain relief such as Nurofen.” (ANI)