According to the student newspaper at Villanova University, there are currently over 165 million Americans with caffeine addiction. Seventy-six percent of children and teens in the United States consume caffeine daily, making it the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world.  Caffeine takes fifteen to twenty minutes to fully affect a person, and it lasts for about three-and-a-half hours. Amphetamines like cocaine, crystal meth, and heroin work similarly to caffeine, although most people don’t see it that way.

Teenagers seem to think that caffeine is just a source if energy. Caffeine is a drug. The effects are not usually deadly, but sometimes can be. It affects everyone differently, so treatment is a riddle. The effects can either be short-term or long-term. Short-term effects directly after consumption include tremors, fever, hyperventilation, and jitteriness. Headaches, delirium and rapid heartbeat are also short-term effects. Long-term effects can include depression, stomach ulcers, chronic insomnia, persistent anxiety, and irregular heartbeat. The effects experienced depend on the consumer and the amount of caffeine consumed. Caffeine pills can become fatal by making the muscles in the heart start to palpitate and cause the heart to pump poorly depriving the body of oxygen. “Caffeine isn’t good for energy because it only gives you a short burst of energy and leaves you drained a few hours later,” said eighth grader Sterling Teal. Teens need to cut back on all the caffeine, but they shouldn’t just quit cold turkey. Stopping caffeine addiction, just like any other addiction, takes time.

Too many people depend on caffeine to get them through the day. It is just like any other addictive drug. If you can’t get up in the morning, that’s a sign you’re not getting enough sleep. Teens need at least seven hours of sleep at night. Also, eating breakfast in the morning starts off your day with plenty of energy. Food gives off energy as well, so you could have a small snack. The three most consumed sources of caffeine are coffee, tea, and soda. Caffeine is common in many foods, so you could be getting doses of it more often than you think. Even medicines, such as pain reliever tablets or Excedrin, have 65 grams or more of caffeine in them.