Caffeine

From Drug Rehab Wiki

Caffeine is a mild stimulant found in chocolate, coffee, tea, colas, energy drinks, and guarana. It is also added to some common pain relievers and weight loss remedies, and sold over-the-counter in "energy boosting pills" used by students, truck drivers, and others who occasionally need to get along without sleep. Caffeine is classified as a drug, and as such, it is the most popular drug in America. Over 90% of adults consume caffeine every day.

Caffeine is a chemical that occurs naturally in coffee and cocoa beans, and tea leaves. An 8-ounce cup of coffee brewed the drip way has 100 mg. of caffeine, a 12-ounce can of cola has 50 mg, and an 8-ounce energy drink has 80 mg. Cups of tea vary in their amounts of caffeine depending on how they are brewed, but the average is 40 mg. Most adults consume 300 mg. of caffeine every day.

Caffeine acts on the brain in ways similar to cocaine and other stimulants, in that it increases dopamine levels, speeds up the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels, and kidneys, and acts as a mild diuretic. Most people feel more alert and energetic when they use caffeine; however, too much caffeine can make you nervous and irritable, and affect your ability to sleep. Caffeine is addictive, and once you become dependent on it, you experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and depression when you try to quit. The severity of the symptoms depends on how long you have been using caffeine, and in what amounts.

For many years, caffeine had a bad reputation as being harmful to the heart and other organs. By the mid-1980s, decaffeinated versions of coffee and soft drinks became available to those who wanted to cut back on their intake of caffeine. However, major studies of over 125,000 caffeine users have found that there are actually some health benefits to using caffeine, including a slightly lower risk for diabetes, cancer, cirrhosis, gallbladder disease, Parkinson's disease, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease.