Caffeine Addiction

By: Brianna Capone

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a bitter substance which occurs naturally in over 60 plants including:

Coffee beans Tea leaves Kola nuts

Man-made caffeine is added to other foods, drinks, and medicines too

Source 5 &6

Is Caffeine Addictive?

Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system

Regular use/consumption does cause mild physical dependence

Does not threaten one’s physical, social, or economic health in the way addictive drugs (i.e. heroin) do

Sources 1 & 4

Reasons for Consumption

Increases alertness and provides a boost of energy

Prescribed medicine containing caffeine in order to treat tiredness/drowsiness

Can increase well-being, happiness, and sociability

Sources 4, 5, & 6

Negative Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine effects individuals differently and can sometimes cause problems such as: Jitteriness Increase heart rate Irregular sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall

asleep or stay asleep Cause uneven heart rhythms Raise blood pressure Headaches, nervousness, or dizziness Dehydration Cause dependency so one needs to take more of it to

avoid withdrawal symptoms

Source 2

Withdrawal Symptoms

On average if one consumes two or more cups of coffee per day and abruptly stops one may experience the following:

Headache Fatigue Anxiety Irritability Depressed Mood Difficulty concentrating

Source 1

Quote “In North America between 80 and 90

percent of adults and children habitually consume caffeine.”

“Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” − David Lynch

Source 4

Tolerance Those who consume caffeine on a day

to day basis tend to build up a tolerance Tolerance means that one’s body is

becoming used to the drug Unable to experience or unresponsive to

the “good effects” of being more alert, awake, and able to concentrate

In order to experience the “good effects” again one must use more caffeine

Sources 4 & 5

When to Take Precautions

Those with heart problems/conditions should not consume caffeine

It makes their heart work too hard Individuals with anxiety or who

experience panic attacks May make them feel worse

Pregnant women should consume caffeine in moderation, avoid large amounts

Source 5

Video Time

http://www.webmd.com/diet/video/truth-about-coffee

Source 3

Agreed vs. Disagreed

Physical dependence is not equivalent to addiction

Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants

2-4 cups per day is a safe amount

Coffee increases sociability (varies from person to person)

It can overtime effect one economically depending on how frequent one feels the need to purchase caffeine

Sources 1 & 6

Discussion Question Based off the information presented, do

you believe that you are “addicted” to caffeine? Why or why not? If so, have you even experienced any of

the withdrawal symptoms once you stopped drinking coffee?

Conclusions

Overall, caffeine can lead to a mild form of physical dependence but when consumed in moderation it tends to yield more positive results than negative.

Be aware of how much caffeine is in the foods and beverages we consume on a daily basis

ReferencesCaffeine Facts: Addiction, Insomnia, Pregnancy Effects, and More. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts

Caffeine: MedlinePlus. (2012). U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caffeine.html

Coffee's Health Benefits - Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/video/truth-about-coffee

Information about caffeine dependence. (2003). Information about caffeine dependence. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.caffeinedependence.org/caffeine_dependence.html

Medicines and Drugs: What's Helpful, What's Harmful . (2012). Background. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/brain-power/grades-2-3/medicines-drugs-whats-helpful-whats-harmful-module-4/background

Medicines in my Home: Caffeine and Your Body. (2007). MedlinePlus. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/UCM205286.pdf

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