Glad to see you back with us again! We are continuing with Substance abuse and the breakdown of each and what they involve.
Our focus today is going to be on: Caffeine Addiction and Abuse-GET READY TO BE MIND BLOWN!
Did you know there was such a thing as a Caffeine Addiction?
Caffeine is currently the world’s most commonly used drug.
It is present in many foods and drinks, which makes it easy to forget that it is a drug. It is even an ingredient in beverages and foods that are marketed to children.
While caffeine has some health benefits, it does have significant negative effects on the body and brain. Caffeine is also associated with an increase in the number of panic attacks in individuals who are predisposed to them.
When consumed in large quantities, caffeine can cause mild to moderate anxiety, though the amount of caffeine that leads to anxiety varies. Unlike many other psychoactive drugs, caffeine is legal and is one of the most widely used substances in the world.
What are Psychoactive Drugs?
Psychoactive, also called psychotropic, is applied to chemical substances that change a person’s mental state by affecting the way the brain and nervous system work.
Also Known As:
Because caffeine is legal, slang terms are generally not used when referring to it. Slang terms for coffee and tea, two of the most common naturally caffeinated beverages, include Joe and cuppa.
Where did Caffeine Come from?
Caffeine occurs naturally in many plants and is most known for its presence in the coffee bean (used to make coffee), the cacao bean (used to make chocolate), and the tea leaf (used to make tea). It also occurs in the kola nut (used to flavor cola drinks) and the guarana berry, a less common additive to beverages that is also available as a health food supplement.
There are over 60 plants that naturally contain caffeine. Furthermore, synthetic caffeine is a surprisingly common food and beverage additive. Caffeine is classified as a stimulant. It increases activity in the central nervous system.
Caffeine can increase energy levels and alertness, but side effects can include:
• Irritability
• Jitters
• Anxiety
• Rapid heart rate
• Restlessness
• Excitement
• Flushed face
• Excessive urination
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Muscle twitching
• Rambling speech
• Tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia
• Periods of inexhaustibility
• Difficulty relaxing
• Insomnia
What does Caffeine Do?
Because caffeine acts as a central nervous stimulant, people usually take it to feel more alert and energetic. Caffeine can improve mood and help people feel more productive. It is believed to work by blocking the neurotransmitter adenosine’s receptors, increasing excitability in the brain.
When caffeine is consumed in large quantities, the side effects can range from unpleasant to severe, sometimes even resulting in caffeine overdose. Caffeine can also pose dangers when taken with other substances including alcohol.
10 Caffeine use can result in excessive alcohol consumption since the stimulant effects of caffeine mask the depressant effects of alcohol.
Mood:
While people often use caffeine to improve mood, excessive caffeine consumption can increase anxiety.
Heat Rate:
Caffeine speeds up the heart rate, with significant effects occurring after consuming 360 mg, the equivalent of about three and a half cups of brewed coffee. In higher doses, caffeine can cause more significant effects on the heart by changing the speed and regularity of your heartbeat. This is known as tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia and can be serious.
Blood Pressure:
Caffeine consumption may raise blood pressure. This effect of caffeine, known as the “pressor effect,” is evident across age and gender groups, and is particularly pronounced in people with hypertension (high blood pressure). If you are unsure of whether this applies to you, ask your doctor about your blood pressure, and get their advice on moderating your caffeine intake accordingly.
Various Uses of Caffeine:
Caffeine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance with stimulant properties. Caffeine use is common, and it is the world’s most popular psychoactive drug. It is completely freely available and unregulated in the United States and throughout much of the globe.
It is an ingredient in a large variety of everyday foods and drinks and can be found in many over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is also often used as a cutting agent in illicit drugs, particularly stimulants.
Use in Everyday Foods and Drinks:
It is well known that caffeine is present in coffee, a very popular adult beverage in the United States. Less commonly known is the presence of caffeine in a large array of other beverages, such as soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks.
Matcha green tea has a caffeine level like coffee, even though green tea is marketed as the low-caffeine alternative to black tea. Caffeine is also a common food ingredient in chocolate and other foods containing cocoa (the processed form of cacao beans). In the past, caffeine has been blamed for chocolate cravings.
In fact, the true picture is much more complex, as chocolate contains another potentially addictive substance: sugar. The phenomenon of sugar addiction has been the subject of many studies, and some scientists believe sugar, not caffeine, is the primary driver of chocolate cravings. However, the concept of food addiction is not without controversy, and research in this field is still ongoing.
Use in Recreational Drugs:
There is a fine line between whether caffeine is considered a food or a recreational drug. We think nothing of adults drinking tea and coffee in front of their children, whereas injecting heroin or smoking crack in front of a child would be shocking—and grounds for removal of the child from their parent’s care.
Yet as the concentration of caffeine gets higher, the effects become more pronounced, and now some high-caffeine beverages are essentially being used as legal recreational drugs. The stimulant effects of caffeine, as well as its legal status and availability, make it a common cutting ingredient in street drugs, such as cocaine and meth.
Use in Pharmaceutical Drugs:
Caffeine is also used as an ingredient in pharmaceutical drug preparations. Many painkillers contain caffeine because caffeine increases its effectiveness. It is also added to many medications that cause drowsiness in order to counteract this side effect.
Caffeine Use in Sports:
Before 2004, caffeine was included as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In 2004, caffeine was removed from the prohibited list. WADA acknowledges the presence of caffeine in many foods and beverages and the risk that it can be abused in sports.
Therefore, although the use of caffeine is not prohibited, it is part of WADA’s monitoring program. To be clear, caffeine has been associated with many positive side effects. Research has connected this plant-derived stimulant to improved mood, relief from headaches, and reduced risk of other major medical issues such as strokes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
Large studies that tracked people over time have even found that coffee drinkers were less likely to die during follow-up. Yet, some people experience negative issues from their caffeine use or have difficulty coping without caffeine. Though rare, there have even been cases of caffeine overdose.
We have all asked the question, Are Energy Drinks Addictive to Kids? Are energy drinks addictive, or do they have other harmful side effects?
As energy drinks continue to enjoy popularity, consumers do not know whether these beverages, associated with sports and an active lifestyle, are good or bad for them. And with many energy drinks marketed to children, parents wonder whether they are part of a healthy lifestyle for kids.
Ingredients of Energy Drinks:
The ingredients of energy drinks vary a great deal from one brand to another, but many of them contain potentially harmful substances, such as caffeine, taurine, sugars, sweeteners, and herbal supplements.
Although energy drinks are easily confused with sports drinks and vitamin waters, they are distinct in that they may be suitable for rehydration, whereas energy drinks are not.
Some of the ingredients in energy drinks carry potential health risks and are not regulated. These beverages typically provide little to no health benefits and can cause drug interactions.
The main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine, typically containing from three to five times the amount contained in cola drinks, with the highest concentrations found in “energy shots. “Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, which has effects on the brain that make you feel more alert by blocking the neuron messaging system that tells your brain you are tired. While many people find the effects of caffeine pleasantly refreshing, for some, it can induce anxiety, nausea, and other unpleasant side effects.
Consumption of Energy Drinks by Kids:
Kids are consuming more caffeine in soda and energy drinks. The average caffeine consumption of teens in the U.S. is 60-70 mg (about twice the weight of a grain of rice) per day, but it can be as high as 800 mg (about the weight of a small paper clip) per day.
About a third of American teens and half of college students regularly consume energy drinks. Many caffeinated beverages, including energy drinks, are deliberately marketed to kids and teens. The reputation of the product Red Bull as a beverage for young partygoers and sports enthusiasts was key to fueling energy drinks’ international popularity when they were introduced in Austria in 1987.
Other energy drink brands would later push this risk-taking theme even further. For example, one brand named their energy drink Cocaine and advertised it with phrases like “speed in a can,” “liquid cocaine,” and “legal drug.”
Alcoholic energy drinks are particularly concerning as a commodity marketed to risk-taking youth. In this context, energy drinks can sometimes be associated with greater substance use. Research shows adolescents who consume energy drinks daily are more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and amphetamines. 3 Some experts theorize that energy drinks pave the way to experimentation with substances. However, it is also possible that adolescents who abuse substances are more likely to use energy drinks.
Safe Limits to Energy Drink Consumption for Kids:
As a psychoactive drug, it would not be appropriate to consider any consumption of caffeine by children or teens to be “safe.” A better way to think about it is to limit kids’ daily caffeine intake to below 2.5 mg per kg of body weight for children, and 100 mg (about the weight of a business card) per day for teens. And remember, energy drinks typically contain a lot of sugar, which can also cause problems when consumed in excess.
High levels of daily sugar consumption in childhood have been linked to violence later in life, independent of a child’s socioeconomic status and psychological health.6 Plus, many scientists believe sugar can be addictive.
Sugar addiction is just one type of food addiction that can continue into adulthood and could be a major contributor to obesity in some individuals. Remember that many everyday foods and drinks contain caffeine, and these should be included in your daily consumption calculations.
Myths & Common Questions:
Some people think caffeine improves their memory, although according to a review published in 2015, the research evidence for this is mixed, although some studies found improved memory was associated with using energy drinks. People also often wonder if excess caffeine consumption might contribute to heart problems.
While caffeine use does have short-term effects on heart rate, it is unclear whether larger intakes increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in the longer term.
According to a 2017 review, several studies have indicated no increased risk for cardiovascular problems in either men or women related to caffeine intake, but caffeine may be problematic for people with high blood pressure.
However, if you have any type of heart disease, you should speak with your doctor before consuming any caffeinated foods and beverages. A common myth is that caffeine use can cause infertility. A study published in 2017 suggests that there is no link between consuming low amounts of caffeine (around 200 mg (about twice the weight of a business card) per day or less) and fertility problems.
Another common question is whether caffeine pills and other high-dose products are different from food and beverages containing caffeine. Products that contain high concentrations of caffeine such as pills and powders, while not chemically different from other forms of the stimulant, do pose additional dangers. Because these products are so concentrated, the difference between a safe and toxic dose is difficult to measure, which increases the risk of accidental overdose and negative side effects such as seizures.
How Long Does Caffeine Stay in Your System?
Caffeine reaches peak levels in the body about an hour after consumption, but you may continue to feel these stimulating effects for up to six hours.
How to Get Help:
If you use a lot of caffeine—drinking the equivalent of more than three cups of tea or coffee per day—it may be negatively affecting your health, so lowering your intake is worth considering.
The best approach is to gradually taper your caffeine consumption. Doing this lowers your dependence gradually while minimizing the negative effects of withdrawal. It is important to know all the various sources of your intake, including foods, energy drinks, caffeine, tea, and soft drinks. Try eliminating these sources progressively by replacing them with lower-caffeine or caffeine-free alternatives.
IN CLOSING: I bet you all learned something today about caffeine addiction! There are so many factors at play here with Caffeine addiction that I am sure most of you never knew existed! We all suffer from the caffeine world in addition to a point, but some are addicted more than others. Take an evaluation for yourself and your children where you stand with caffeine, do it for yourself, your children, and most importantly your health!
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