It’s just one of those mornings.
You’re tired, cranky, and the last thing you want to do is spend seven hours glued to a desk getting lectured.On your way out the door, you pour some coffee into a mug and take a sip. Suddenly, this little cup of muddy liquid has jolted you awake, and you’re ready to conquer the day. But why?
The magic ingredient found in your coffee and Mountain Dew that causes this jolt is an addictive little drug called caffeine. Derived from plants grown in warm-weather climates, caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. The addictive properties mimic that of marijuana, according to marijuana- addiction.net
“I usually drink coffee three times a week,” junior Nikki Steltenkamp said. “If I had a long night of dance, it helps me stay awake and focused during school the next day.”
In the United States alone about fifty-two percent of the population, drink coffee every day. With over half of the country hooked, it explains why Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, reported a profit of $241.5 million for 2009 alone.
It’s not just coffee that has teenagers hooked. Energy drinks, such as Monster or Red Bull, have been a trend targeting teenagers and young adults, picking up in recent years. The high levels of sugar and caffeine pack a high, potentially dangerous punch.
While the FDA limits caffeine content in sodas to 65 mg per 12 ounces, energy drinks tend to slip under the radar. A Redline Power Rush packs a whopping 350 mg into merely 2.5 ounces.
What are consequences of becoming hooked on this drug?
According to drugwarfacts.org and suburra.com, nervousness, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, headaches, and heart palpitations have been recognized as immediate side effects of caffeine consumption. Excessive caffeine consumption in early years can leave unpleasant lasting effects on the body.
“Becoming too dependent on caffeine can leave adults with nasty side effects,” Vicki Solway, a pediatrician from West Bloomfield, said. “Studies have shown that adults can develop anxiety, chronic headaches, and even schizophrenia from excessive caffeine consumption.”
Caffeine is also a diuretic, causing the body to release fluid more often. Because of this, caffeine consumers tend to be dehydrated.
“Caffeine causes the body to lose calcium as well, leading to bone loss in major years,” Solway said.
Energy drinks themselves contain health hazards of their own. The combination of “natural” ingredients the drinks are composed of mixed with the caffeine can significantly increase blood sugar and heart rate.
However, the scariest mixture comes when the high energy drinks are mixed with alcohol. The popular drink Four Loko, known as “blackout in a can”, measures at 23.5 ounces, 135 mg of caffeine, and 12 percent alcohol content. Because of numerous hospitalized incidents and several deaths, the caffeinated version of the drink is now banned in several states, including Michigan.
However, the scariest mixture comes when the high energy drinks are mixed with alcohol. The popular drink Four Loko, known as “blackout in a can”, measures at 23.5 ounces, 135 mg of caffeine, and 12 percent alcohol content. Because of numerous hospitalized incidents and several deaths, the caffeinated version of the drink is now banned in several states, including Michigan.
However, there’s no need to worry about your chocolate cravings or the occasional 5 Hour Energy; recent studies show that a low dose of caffeine before a test, race, or game can boost performance, sometimes significantly.
“It helps me get pumped up for stuff,” senior David Bender said, regarding caffeine. “If I’m doing something important that I need to be focused on, it helps to have a little kick before.”
