Is Caffeine addictive and should it be considered a drug?

1. Informative Speech
Unit 4
Individual Project
Lystra Joseph
5.3.09

2. “You have work, a family, a pet and now
school? Really? Where do you find the
time? Do you even have a social life?”
This was the reaction of my dog‟s Vet on
our last visit two weeks ago. He was
amazed that I had time to take such good
care of my dog, because as he put it – she
was the most pampered Pitt he‟d ever
seen. But little did he know that I was
living a „wired-life‟…wired full of caffeine!!

3. My life has been a whirl-wind of events since I
began school in February. I have little or no social
life because school has taken priority over
everything else.
I swore to myself that 2009 was the year to take
care of „me‟ because I spend so much time taking
care of everybody else. And yet with all I have to
do, the one thing I need the most is sleep and it is
often the last thing I get to do. So to cope on the
really tough days I turn to coffee. Why? Because
it‟s what everybody else does. The funny thing is – I
know better!!

4. NO
COFFEE
HERE
As a kid, coffee was not allowed in our house. My
parents‟ religion considered it an unhealthy
stimulant with negative side effects. So I was not
exposed to coffee until after I left home.
I was drawn to it first, because of its aroma, and
then by its taste. I stuck to decaf however, to avoid
the side effects I heard my mother speak of, but
soon fell victim to the benefits of a fresh-brewed
cup of regular coffee. It gave me an extra edge
that I did not have before. This was a new feeling
and I must admit I liked it a lot. What a rush!!!

5. Despite my new found love of coffee, I
still considered myself an occasional
consumer because to me it was more of
a treat. If I had a tough week I‟d meet
with a friend and chat over coffee. Or
if I felt like indulging on a lazy
Sunday, I‟d have coffee with
waffles, eggs and sausage. Therefore it
was not part of my daily routine so I
was not hooked.

6. Caffeine, as defined by the Webster‟s New World Medical
Dictionary, is a stimulant found naturally in coffee beans, tea
leaves, cocoa beans (chocolate) and kola nuts (cola) and
added to soft drinks, foods, and medicines.
Webster‟s New World Medical Dictionary goes on to explain
that a cup of coffee has 100-250 milligrams of caffeine. Black
tea brewed for 4 minutes has 40-100 milligrams. Green tea
has one-third as much caffeine as black tea. (1).
When used in doses of 100-200 milligrams caffeine is known to
increase alertness, alleviate drowsiness, improve
concentration and even relieve headaches. However at doses
of 250-700 milligrams per day it can bring on anxiety, cause
nervousness, insomnia, increased urination, and high blood
pressure. (2). Therefore one can immediately surmise that
caffeine has both good and bad attributes and should proceed
with caution.

7. A person who consumes caffeine occasionally in the form
of coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks or prescriptions
can attest to its benefits and may see no significant side
effects when the stimulant has worn off. However
habitual or heavy users will speak of side effects ranging
from moderate to severe or even extreme – the most
common being headaches, tiredness, irritability, mood
swings, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, and in severe
cases feelings of desperation, heart palpitations, muscle
stiffness or pain and chronic insomnia. (3).
Whether or not these withdrawal symptoms are
psychological or physiological they are very real to the
person experiencing them and therefore are cause for
great concern because up to 90% of Americans consume
caffeine on a daily basis.

8. Unfortunately, I too suffered with side effects when I
increased my coffee consumption.
• I got withdrawal headaches that only seemed
to go away with more coffee or if I skipped
coffee for a few days.
• I got acne
• I noticed that my skin was considerably dry
• Within an hour of drinking a cup of regular
coffee my heart rate was considerably faster
and I felt a sense of nervousness. I felt
mentally alert but my body was feeling
unnaturally hyper and this was my cause for
concern. So I decided to explore safer alternatives
(which I‟ll discuss later).

9. Naturally a person would not want to experience the harsh
side effects just mentioned, and so they either limit their use
of caffeine or become extremely dependent on it. The latter
can be considered as caffeine dependence, or in extreme
cases, addiction.
Addiction, as described by Webster‟s New World Medical
Dictionary, is a chronic relapsing condition characterized by
compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting
chemical changes in the brain.
An addictive substance induces feelings of pleasure or may
relieve distress. Habitual use of said substances can cause
adaptive changes in the brain which leads to tolerance,
physical dependence and uncontrollable cravings, all of which
are difficult to stop, the end result being severe physical and
mental reactions from withdrawal.(4).

10. As we can now see, caffeine, although beneficial,
can have negative effects. Therefore it would be
wise on our part to limit its use where possible and
instead search for more effective ways of boosting
our energy levels.
Adding fruits and vegetables to our daily diet can
be extremely beneficial. Even one banana with
breakfast or as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon
snack can significantly improve one‟s energy level,
concentration and mood because it is loaded with
potassium and Vitamin C.

11. Adequate sleep can also make a huge
difference but if lack of time is a factor then
a 20 – 30 minute nap can make a world of
difference to improve alertness and boost
energy.
A brisk 5 – 10 minute walk boosts blood flow
and improves alertness, and so does a change
of task, change of scenery or a few minutes
of fresh air. Some of these methods may
require a bit of creativity while at work but in
the long run can help significantly. (5)

12. I also find that music helps to keep me awake
so this is an option worth considering. I just
use headphones so as not to disturb others
around me.
And for those who insist on a quick fix, then
they can use ready mix vitamin packs like
Emergen-C. These vitamin packs dissolve in
water or juice and are absorbed by the
body quickly. Within an hour one can see
marked improvement in mood, alertness, and
energy. (6).

13. In conclusion, caffeine has its good and bad attributes. When used in
moderation it can certainly „save the day‟ but undesirable side effects
are seen with overuse.
Is it addictive? Yes it can be with heavy use. Should it be considered a
drug? Yes, but I don‟t see that happening any time soon. And I believe
such a fete would be met with massive opposition from all corners of the
world.
In short, the decision lies with the individual to either
choose healthier alternatives
-
- switch to decaf if the taste of coffee is what you crave or
- try to stay away from caffeine all together
the end the choice is yours.
-In

14. New World Medical Dictionary
Webster‟s
MedicineNet.com : Definition Of Caffeine :
(1)(2)
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11068
MedicineNet.com: Caffeine Addiction, Can You Quit? (3):

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=43492
New World Medical Dictionary
Webster‟s
MedicineNet.com: Definition of Addiction(4):
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10177
Foods To Fight Fatigue (5) :
MedicineNet.com:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55763
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55763&page=2
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55763&page=3
C (6):
Emergen
http://www.emergenc.com/