As a student, I’m accustomed to seeing my peers drink lots and lots of caffeine. They do it because they need to have some way to stay at least mildly alert throughout the school day. They pop caffeine pills like candy, drink energy drink after energy drink, and claim that they can’t function without having at least 2 cups of coffee everyday.
I’m wondering what the long-term effects of being dependent on caffeine are. Being a caffeine addict is more acceptable in society than being a drug addict. But see, that’s the problem. Caffeine is a stimulant after all, and, as with basically anything, too much of it can be detrimental to personal health.
I know a lot of people who consume copious amounts of caffeine (either through beverages or pills) who have developed various problems a long with their increased consumption. It’s become a sort of vicious cycle. They complain that they don’t get enough sleep, and then drink a lot of caffeinated beverages. Hasn’t it occurred to them that it might be their caffeine consumption that’s causing their sleep problems?
It’s okay to have a little coffee. Maybe one cup is all right. But is ordering three Venti mocha whatevers, in addition to 2 energy drinks, throughout the day really necessary?
- Allyson