2. What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a bitter substance which
occurs naturally in over 60 plants
including:
Coffee beans
Tea leaves
Kola nuts
Man-made caffeine is added to other
foods, drinks, and medicines too
Source 5 &6
3. Is Caffeine Addictive?
Caffeine is a stimulant of the central
nervous system
Regular use/consumption does cause
mild physical dependence
Does not threaten one’s
physical, social, or economic health in the
way addictive drugs (i.e. heroin) do
Sources 1 & 4
4. Reasons for Consumption
Increases alertness and provides a boost
of energy
Prescribed medicine containing caffeine
in order to treat tiredness/drowsiness
Can increase well-being, happiness, and
sociability
Sources 4, 5, & 6
5. Negative Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine effects individuals differently and can
sometimes cause problems such as:
Jitteriness
Increase heart rate
Irregular sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall
asleep or stay asleep
Cause uneven heart rhythms
Raise blood pressure
Headaches, nervousness, or dizziness
Dehydration
Cause dependency so one needs to take more of
it to avoid withdrawal symptoms
Source 2
6. Withdrawal Symptoms
On average if one consumes two or more
cups of coffee per day and abruptly stops
one may experience the following:
Headache
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability
Depressed Mood
Difficulty concentrating
Source 1
7. Quote
“In North America between 80 and 90
percent of adults and children habitually
consume caffeine.”
“Even bad coffee is better than no coffee
at all.” − David Lynch
Source 4
8. Tolerance
Those who consume caffeine on a day to
day basis tend to build up a tolerance
Tolerance means that one’s body is
becoming used to the drug
Unable to experience or unresponsive to
the “good effects” of being more
alert, awake, and able to concentrate
In order to experience the “good effects”
again one must use more caffeine
Sources 4 & 5
9. When to Take Precautions
Those with heart problems/conditions
should not consume caffeine
It makes their heart work too hard
Individuals with anxiety or who experience
panic attacks
May make them feel worse
Pregnant women should consume
caffeine in moderation, avoid large
amounts
Source 5
11. Agreed vs. Disagreed
Physical
dependence is not
equivalent to
addiction
Coffee contains a
lot of antioxidants
2-4 cups per day is
a safe amount
Coffee increases
sociability (varies
from person to
person)
It can overtime
effect one
economically
depending on how
frequent one feels
the need to
purchase caffeine
Sources 1 & 6
12. Discussion Question
Based off the information presented, do
you believe that you are “addicted” to
caffeine? Why or why not?
If so, have you even experienced any of
the withdrawal symptoms once you
stopped drinking coffee?
13. Conclusions
Overall, caffeine can lead to a mild form
of physical dependence but when
consumed in moderation it tends to yield
more positive results than negative.
Be aware of how much caffeine is in the
foods and beverages we consume on a
daily basis
14. References
Caffeine Facts: Addiction, Insomnia, Pregnancy Effects, and More. (n.d.). WebMD.
Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-
myths-and-facts
Caffeine: MedlinePlus. (2012). U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved January
26, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caffeine.html
Coffee's Health Benefits - Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved January
26, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/video/truth-about-coffee
Information about caffeine dependence. (2003). Information about caffeine
dependence. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from
http://www.caffeinedependence.org/caffeine_dependence.html
Medicines and Drugs: What's Helpful, What's Harmful . (2012). Background.
Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/brain-
power/grades-2-3/medicines-drugs-whats-helpful-whats-harmful-module-
4/background
Medicines in my Home: Caffeine and Your Body. (2007). MedlinePlus. Retrieved
January 26, 2014, from
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsing
MedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/UCM205286.pdf
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