Is Drinking Caffeine a Drug Habit?
Garrett here, the review guy. I wanted to post this article for a couple of reasons, chief among them being the fact that Mr. Fiend over there is too humble to point out that he spent a fair amount of his time contributing to the research for it. Also, I thought it was interesting that they took what was ostensibly an article about caffeine and somehow spent a good chunk of it talking about kids abusing prescription meds.
Now I’m no doctor, but I’d say any connection there is really tenuous at best. There is a big difference between coffee and Adderall. There’s also a pretty sizable difference between a Red Bull and a Red Line. It’s up to each of us to know these differences and take them into account if we are going to mess with this stuff.
So I’ve been around for a while now, reading the comments and some emails, and you should know by now that I’ve got no problem throwing around half-assed opinions. That being said, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the bulk of our readership probably isn’t made up of what one might call drug people. I think relatively few people who drink caffeine regularly would characterize themselves as drug users because of the way the meaning of the word has been changed.
It is a drug habit though and there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that as long as everyone recognizes that there are both risks and benefits associated with any relationship with a drug.
Most people who use drugs in the traditional sense of the word (i.e., illegal drugs) will tell you that there is a difference between a user and an abuser. Users are generally annoyed by abusers because a) it’s members of the latter that generally perpetuate a lot of the stereotypes that have been manufactured to make the members of the former look bad, and b) because most of the time a member of the latter group thinks he or she is actually a member of the former group, hence reducing the chance that he or she will realize that they are acting like a fool and stop. Also–and perhaps most importantly– because it’s generally the abusers of certain lesser drugs that will move on to more severe and dangerous drugs, hence keeping the door open for people to make the kinds of tenuous connections that we’re seeing in the article.
The chance that someone reading this will switch from coffee to Dexadrine is just about the same as the chance that your average pot smoker will switch to Heroin–slim, but not impossible. If people like the writers of this article can convince a significant number of other people that there is a link though, well, it’s just an opportunity for them to give us crap.
I guess my point is this: Don’t screw this up. We’ve got a good thing here. Caffeine has been around for 1000’s of years and it’s just getting kind of trendy right now. Cocaine, Morphine, and the Stinky Green Ganja have all been around equally as long, but they each their vogue periods and are now against the law.
So,
1. All of these substances have survived because they serve a purpose in some capacity. Some forms of cocaine are still classified as a schedule II controlled substance in the U.S. because they are used as a topical anesthetic. Morphine, medical marijuana, you get the point.
2. All of them became popular because it’s in our nature to figure out how to make use of the world around us.
3. All of them have been criminalized because, unfortunately, it’s also in our nature to periodically freak out about what others are doing.
I realize that it sounds silly or alarmist or whatever. It is a bit of a stretch, but please at least acknowledge that it’s not out of the realm of possibility. There is an army of stupid people out there who are eagerly looking for something that they can channel their energy into. They want to worry about certain aspects of your behavior so that they can avoid thinking about other aspects of their own.
I’m not saying that anyone is going to try to criminalize caffeine, but I am saying I could see some unholy union of concerned moms and opportunistic politicians at least monopolizing a valuable chunk of the news cycle. I can see someone who might be inspired by this article to write a book about the quiet scourge that’s killing our children. That, of course means a buttload of press and more time that we are not talking about something more important. Do not let that happen.
Don’t be the person that eats a box of No-Doze. Don’t be the guy who acts a fool in line at Starbucks and, for god’s sake, don’t just grab shit off the shelf and start guzzling blindly. I cringe every time I read a comment from someone who unknowingly drinks a Redline or something else that they weren’t ready for. That crap is dangerous. It’s fun too, but it’s still dangerous. Especially in the wrong hands. I don’t go around recommending that all of my friends drink this stuff because it most certainly is not for everyone.
Know your dosage. It makes life a lot easier.
Just as importantly, know the difference between an extra shot in your latte and popping black market freaking Ritalin.
Actually, that’s another thing. Do not underestimate the value of convenience. Don’t take for granted the luxury of stopping virtually anywhere and being able to buy what you’re looking for. Most drug people will also tell you that the legal nature of some of their purchasing habits necessitates dealing with some seriously flaky people. Most can only dream of going to the pharmacy or the drug store and getting what they need. So, yeah, there’s that.
If one of you gets hopped up and does something stupid or dangerous or otherwise embarrassing, you make us all look bad. Just like everyone that drinks isn’t George W. Bush and every pot smoker isn’t this guy and everyone who smokes crack….wait, no, everyone who smokes crack is a jackass….don’t associate with crack smokers. Be very, very careful with the cocaine people too. They’re dangerous and often stupid. Watch Boogie Nights.
This thing of ours though, it’s silly. It’s a relatively harmless diversion from the monotony that will eventually kill each of us. Besides that, it allows us to have a productive morning or a solid workout or a lively night out (or all three). Don’t let it go beyond that. Don’t end up on CNN or YouTube and don’t let people like the ones who wrote this story convince anyone else that there’s any reason to pay attention to us. There’s nothing to see here and it’s best if they just move along.
I would have been much happier if the story would have just been about prescription drugs. It’s an interesting subject in its own right and one that should be discussed. Bringing caffeine in was just a ploy to ensure that they lure in more parents and grandparents. It sells magazines and, oddly enough, it sells energy drinks. See how this all works? Someone is going to get what they want. It might as well be you and those who aren’t harming you. It’s up to us, not as citizens or humans because no one really cares about that. It’s up to us as consumers. That’s what matters so embrace it. They’re your fat ass, dirty dollars. Spend them wisely–on beverages and media.
Okay, I’m afraid that may have been a rant. I didn’t plan that. I, uh, I’m done now.
33 Comments
Drinking caffeine is a habit, like some smokers getting up in the mornings to smoke. Unfortunetly, companies are trying to look on the bright side of why people drink coffee to wake up. They are looking for the advantages as to why everyone should buy and drink coffee. They same thing started out with cigarettes and luxouries. Unfortunetly caffeine in drinks will eventually follow the same suit of being regulated and later taken off the market because after all it is a drug…
This is pretty dead on. I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 5 (although at that time, it was heavily diluted with milk), but I wasn’t allowed any sort of soda the majority of the time, except decaf when my parents had a party or something.
My parents taught me to manage it. Everyone in my family drinks tons, tons of caffeinated beverages, and my brother and I have always worked crazy hours and we’re the ones going to college, so we’re even heavier on energy drinks and espresso. I have to say, though, we do better managing it than most people I know in the near city who overdo it with Starbucks and end up getting agitated in traffic.
I think setting an age limit on really high-caffiene drinks wouldn’t be a bad idea, but I know a lot of kids with memory and attention problems that caffiene helps. I was one of those kids! There are benefits and drawbacks, for sure, but I think it needs a lot more thought than a knee-jerk “someone was stupid” decision.
Ack people blaming Starbucks for agitated drivers. Slow drivers keep right.
Garrett ~ You are a terrific writer! I can barely sit through more than a few sentences of a rant, but yours was insightful, thought-provoking, intelligent, completely amusing, and inspired me to continue my coffee and Mt. Dew habit for the sheer purpose of getting through my day. Because I’m short and thin, it doesn’t take much caffeine to get me moving, which is all I need .. get me moving, keep me moving (otherwise you’ll find me on the couch watching TLC all day, GASP!). But hey, there was a lot of information here, and I’m starting to think maybe I could safely add one more little jolt of caff and actually DO something besides being an upright zombie! Thanks for the lift to my day!
P.S. I feel slightly better about the one can of Mt. Dew I allow my teenagers per day … what the hey, it won’t kill ‘em! (But I’m a mean Mommy … no caffeine for the 6 and 4-year-olds!)
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying and you have a good perspective on caffeine use. However, your comments are insensitive to those with addictions. You clearly have never been addicted to caffeine or anything for that matter. If so, you would know that some people’s bodies become much more dependent on caffeine than others and they literally are not able to use it recreationally the way you are. You should understand that the “abusers that perpetuate a lot of the stereotypes” might have a problem that is out of their control and NOT THEIR FAULT. I’m not saying that caffeine should be illegal. I actually side with you on that argument. I’m just asking you to please learn more about and understand “addiction” before you make comments like “Don’t be the person that eats a box of No-Doze. Don’t be the guy who acts a fool in line at Starbucks and, for god’s sake, don’t just grab shit off the shelf and start guzzling blindly.”
Well, I think most people would associate that kind of behavior with experimentation more than addiction. I was thinking mainly about people who may not have a lot of experience with highly concentrated caffeinated products.
Believe me dude, I write reviews for Energy Fiend. I know about addiction. I’ve been forced to bear witness to (and participate in) some pretty epic battles with all manner of substances in my time.
As far as insensitivity goes, you may be right, but I think it stems from impatience. The point I was trying to make is that responsible use (i.e., avoiding addiction and dangerous behavior) should be the goal. There are a couple of different schools of thought regarding the whole “addiction=sickness” thing, but I think that may be a different discussion for a different day. Suffice it to say that I don’t think any level of addiction is A) insurmountable, or B) a valid excuse for irresponsibiity. Maybe I’ll write something else about that later.
Overall though, point taken. Some people get addicted to things. Yeah.
Also, thanks for the props Brie and Mama. Much appreciated.
the human body drug interaction with naturally occurring substances as opposed to with chemically isolated natural substances is different, and KarlieMildraed’s comments are valid. Usually, it is not any chemical change in the isolated substance itself, but the isolation from other similar compounds that would normally affect the body in concert with the now isolated agent.
While there is a TON of misinformation about drugs, we can be pretty sure that caffeine is one. We as caffeine users would like to differentiate ourselves from amphetamine users; we’re both looking for the same thing. While caffeine and amphetamines are vastly different in many ways, as a kid who experimented with prescription amphetamines, I can say without a doubt that the sort of person that likes the caffeine high is also the sort of person that will LOVE the amphetamine high. That said if you like caffeine stay the hell away from amphetamines. You are the sort of person who will love them, and loving amphetamines will not lead you anywhere you want to be 
The truth about drugs is that the majority of us use them (caffeine, booze, cigarettes, buds, whatever) and some have a much higher potential for destruction, but the use of them all derives from the same drives in all of us. We would like to think that we are not like them. Us caffeine users look down on the amphetamine users because amphetamines really are more dangerous than caffeine. The pot users look down on the drinkers because booze isn’t natural and is neuro-toxic. The drinkers look down on the pot smokers because pot’s illegal. The heroin users look down on the amphetamine users because amphetamines aren’t natural. And the amphetamine users look down on the heroin users because they shoot up. We’re all users like we’re all human. Except for the Mormons.
From my experiences with caffeine, i would have to say it is addicting and sometimes potentially deadly…
i started drinking caffeine when i was about 8 and by the time i was 15 i was consuming at least two energy drinks per day, one thing led to another and caffeine pills was the next step in my addiction. at the time i couldn’t go a day without consuming at least 400 mg of caffeine or i would suffer mind numbing migraines that lasted all day.as my tolerance grew higher i started taking more and more pills and at the peak i was up to 1200 mg per day until i overdosed and had the go to the hospital and get my stomach pumped. so in my opinion don’t take pills, their too easy to od on, stick with coffee. it tastes better anyways…
Energy drinks like Monster have 160 mg of caffeine or 4 times the caffeine of regular soda and 54 grams of sugar (that’s 14 tsp. of sugar) compared to 40 grams of sugar(10 tsp)in Coke. The sole intent of energy drink makers is to addict you 4 times faster than regular soda and make the withdrawal symptoms four times more powerful and debilitating. This enables them to addict you quicker and more forcibly. Yes, Monster energy users, you began to drink Monster with the intent to be free of something and now you are a slave to the product. You are forced or compelled to drink Monster daily or you’ll get sick (withdrawal symptoms). What began as a free choice has become servitude. You are no longer your own master, Monster energy subjugates you or masters you. You have lost your freedom and have entered a world of desperate, fearful dependency. The only “Monsters” are the people selling you this useless, highly addictive product that will gradually but inexorably ruin your health. Energy drinks contain sugar and caffeine which raise levels of cortisol(death hormone) and insulin in blood. This rapidly leads to adrenal gland exhaustion and prediabetic hypoglycemia. This creates vicious cycle, since low blood sugar causes fatigue and craving for more simple sugars and caffeine. This increases consumption of energy drinks, increasing addiction and perpetuating vicious cycle. Over time with chronically elevated blood levels of cortisol and insulin, your health will deteriorate. Insulin resistance will develop. Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Metab olic syndrome manifests as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, elevated Fasting blood sugar, elevated LDL cholesterol, and low HDL cholesterol and elevated Triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome often progresses to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Drinking Monster energy began as a wish to be free of something, but has resulted in your becoming a hapless slave to these drinks. The problem is they will ruin your health (insulin resistance and possibly diabetes). While companies like Hansen Natural gets Rich, You get Sick. Do you know they make One Dollar profit on every can sold? When you get sick from energy drinks and you will, don’t expect Hansen Natural to pay your medical bills. Hansel Naturaal doesn’t give a damn about you, they only care about your money. A recent study with rats showed refined sugar to be 15 times more addictive than cocaine. Even rats that were initially addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. I would also like to add that both sugar and caffeine cause panic attacks, depression, insomnia and generalized anxiety. Caffeine also reduces GABA levels in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that allows you to feel comfort or a sense of peace when you are stressed. L Taurine, an amino acid present in many energy drinks, causes bizarre behavior in rats including self mutilating behaviors.
listen, in response to the kid who is 13. i am to and im 6 foot 1 and have been for a year caffeine dosent stunt your growth and the unsubstantiated data that is going a round is pure bull shit. also as you sit there judging other people and telling them only to have 75 to 100 milligrams a day you only add fuel to this fire of judgment.
I agree with some of the points made by Dr. K,
but I don’t think caffeine is going to kill us immediately.
I also don’t understand why you are singling out
Monster. I don’t think Monster is the worst energy
drink out there, but everyone is entitled to their opinion…
However, I don’t think caffeine needs to be avoided
completely. Having an occasional Monster is not going
to kill us on the spot. Unless you have absolutely no
caffeine tolerance, which I don’t think any of the
readers here have.
So, is this basically a question of concentration then? I can’t think of any other way to quantify it.
I’m obviously opposed to any kind of official intervention or regulation. We shouldn’t need it. As far as I can tell though (aside from cases of blatant abuse), most of the potential for problems stems from people drinking one or two cans or bottles of something that’s MUCH stronger than they antcipated.
I think we’re getting into a whole new territory when we start to see things like Upshot and the Redline syrup.