Caffeine: America's Most Popular Drug

Caffeine is a wildly use drug in today’s society. Caffeine is a methylated xanthine which acts as a mild central nervous system stimulant (MS & RL, 2001). It is a stimulant which acts upon the central nervous system and increases alertness, wakefulness and restlessness and it increases the release of catecholamine from renal medullar (Fernandez, 2016; Collines, 2007). It is present in many beverages. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, products containing chocolate (cocoa) and some medication (Collines, 2007). It is used as a cardiac and respiratory stimulant (Collines, 2007).Caffeine is the most frequently ingested pharmacologically active substance in the world (Collines, 2007).

Caffeine is a mild stimulant that occurs naturally in at least 63 plant species. Caffeine can be found in the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots of these various plants. Caffeine is part of the methylxanthine family. It consists of a xanthine molecule with three methyl groups attached to it. Caffeine can be found in many products like sodas, tea, and coffee, but it also occurs in several other products such as prescription medications, diuretics, and pain relievers. Caffeine’s widespread use and popularity have caused many people to view the substance as an addictive drug. Thus making caffeine the most inexpensive and readily available drug known to man. Then on the other hand there are

Introduction: (bring a monster, sip it) alright. How many of you here drink coffee, energy drinks, or soda daily? Well we aren’t alone; according to Villanova Health Service about 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine in one way or another every single day.

Caffeine plays an enormous role in society today, from coffee to cokes to candy bars. Companies have made billions off the desire for that extra kick. Caffeine is the most widely consumed behaviorally active substance in the world making it one of the world’s most popular drugs. It’s known for the ability to stimulate the brain and central nervous system. The Chemical structure of caffeine is C8H10N4O2. Before the popular use of caffeine one can assume that people were sleepier, and less alert.

People ask why is caffeine so appealing? Nutritionists state that kids and teens are not at risk if taken in moderation. However, for adults, they consume it as a drug. They desire it to improve mental and physical performance and mood. Caffeine is considered the most consumed drug in the world. As being a drug, caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and caffeine dependency. One may say that caffeine should be taken in moderation and can still have the pleasing effects on the central nervous system. If not, it will negatively affect the body mentally and

Caffeine (C8H10N4O2) in it chemical nature is a central nervous system stimulant which acts by dilating blood vessels and preventing adenosine from inhibiting the release of glutamate. (Oxford University Press, 2016) Caffeine as a widely used drug, is frequently studied in regards to its performance and physiological effects on an individual. (Harland, 2000)

Coffee is my life. I need coffee twice a day to keep me going. Coffee consist of caffeine and when I can’t get coffee I turn to other caffeine methods like chocolate, sodas, or tea. The section of the effects of drugs on the nervous system-caffeine was very interesting. It relates to what is caffeine, how it affect our bodies, and how it is a physical dependence. Caffeine is a stimulant for our central nervous system. “In moderate dosage, it increases alertness, reduce fine motor coordination, cause insomnia, headaches, nervousness, and dizziness” according to washington.edu. In high dosage caffeine can be dangerous and cause death. Caffeine is in the xanthine chemical group, adenosine is a naturally occurring xanthine in the brain that is used as a neurotransmitter for some synapses; caffeine interferes with adenosine at sites in the brain. The over use of causes physical dependence, this can cause a withdrawal is the need is not met. The withdrawal is unpleasant and can cause agitation. As you can see, caffeine truly effects our nervous system and even explain some points in the biopsychology chapter and chapter 4 because of physical dependence,

Thesis Statement: Caffeine is something that almost everyone has consumed and some people are even addicted to, it has negative and positive effects on one’s health.

Caffeine can increase mental alertness at work or while studying which can also enhance performance on certain mental tasks.

Caffeine is being used by millions of people around the world. Caffeine is an easily accessible drug that is found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda, chocolate, over-the-counter medications, and many other common items. However, this drug is not dangerous, on the contrary, caffeine has many benefits. Caffeine is a stimulant drug and it reaches the brain quickly and then stimulates the central nervous system making the user feel more alert. Caffeine is a healthy drug for students and it keeps the body healthy, improves one’s memory, and increases alertness.

The world’s primary sources of caffeine are coffee and tea, and in North America alone, coffee represents about 3/4 of where dietary caffeine comes from. Other forms of caffeine, which is found in 60% of plants, are cocoa products, cola beverages, and energy drinks. Available to both children and adults, 80% of the world’s population consumes caffeine on a daily basis as a legal stimulant. Caffeine was first documented to have been consumed in China around 350CE, although some evidence states that the first consumption of tea was to be around 300BCE, and coffee cultivation is reported to have started around 600CE in Ethiopia (Korsmeyer and Kranzler).

Caffeine is one of the most commonly used drugs. In today’s fast-paced society, lots of people rely on caffeine from coffee to keep them energized throughout the day. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that can give you bursts of energy, but can also make you jittery if too much is consumed. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about 90 percent of the world’s population ingests some form of caffeine. In the United States, about 80 percent of us take in some caffeine every day. It provides no nutritional value and it has no taste, so it is hard to know if it is in your food (Pietrangelo). Over the years, caffeine consumption has become a controversial subject. Some argue that caffeine consumption can be detrimental to your health, while others say that the effects of caffeine can be beneficial. However, research shows that caffeine is more bad than good. Caffeine consumption can have numerous potentially dangerous effects on a person, both physiologically and psychologically.

Drinking caffeine causes people to lose sleep. An average person needs approximately eight hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep effects the alertness during the day and the ability to concentrate. This explains why people turn to caffeine. Multiple night owls use caffeine as a way to stay awake when they get tired. Caffeine does help people to stay awake, but it only worsens their sleep schedule. Though it keeps people from falling asleep during the day, it also keeps people from falling asleep at night, when they ultimately need sleep (Staff 2). Included with a

Caffeine is emerging in popularity in adolescents and young adults, specifically in college students. McIlvain and colleagues found that more than 78% of a sample of 300 college freshmen consumed above the recommended 200 mg of caffeine per day with the mean resting at a whopping 850 mg of caffeine (McIlvain, Noland, and Bickel, 2011). It is also estimated that 30% of American adolescents (ages 10 to 17 years) consume caffeinated beverages on a daily basis (Calamaro et al., 2012). Furthermore, in a study done surveying caffeine use by seventh-, eighth-, and

The majority of people who consume caffeine on a daily basis due so because of its stimulating effects. However, many people would think otherwise if they knew about the negative effects it enforces. The history and background of caffeine are good to know and sometimes impact a person’s decision of consuming it or not. The uses, consumption and side effects are extremely important to be familiar with before coming in contact with caffeine.