A study conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo has revealed that caffeine affects boys and girls differently in terms of physiology and behavior.

The paper, which appears in the current issue of the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, found that the substance - which is most commonly acquired through the consumption of soda - appeared to have varying impacts on adolescents based on their gender.

Researchers evaluated 52 boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17, who were asked to complete a 24-hour dietary recall on how many caffeinated drinks they had consumed. Saliva samples were taken to ensure that the participants were not taking steroid hormones, along with tests to measure their blood pressure and heart rate.

The study subjects were then given beverages with varying degrees of caffeine or placebo drinks. The research team found that caffeine increased blood pressure and heart rate in boys, but did not in girls.

"We are hoping that our findings will help us determine why males and females differ in susceptibility to drug abuse and respond differently to treatment," the team explained.

Problem teens who engage in harmful behaviors such as drug abuse may learn to make healthier choices by attending wilderness therapy.