Consuming energy drinks could be a gateway to cocaine use, a new study suggests.

According to researchers at the University of Maryland's School of Public Health, young adults who said they consumed energy drinks between the ages of 21 and 24 were at a greater risk of doing cocaine or prescription stimulants for non-medical uses.

The study recruited 1,099 participants when they were 18-year-old college students.

More than half of the participants fell into the group with a "persistent trajectory" - meaning they continued to consume energy drinks over time. Members of this group were "significantly" more likely to use stimulant drugs.

"This study gives evidence of a specific contribution of energy drink consumption to later substance use," said Professor Amelia Arria, an associate professor of behavioural and community health who was the lead author on the study. "The results suggest that energy drink users might be at heightened risk for other substance use, particularly stimulants."

Even those who occasionally consumed energy drinks were at an increased risk of stimulant drug use.

Those who didn't consume energy drinks as they got older were less likely to develop substance-abuse issues.

While the study doesn't explain why consuming energy drinks may be linked to stimulant drug use, researchers say it should be investigated further.