Juliana Stahr, UCSB student

Class of 2020

Psych Hacks Wordpress Blogs

Am I Addicted To Caffeine?
If so, can you wean off the addiction?
th
Posted May 9 , 2017

Source: Bright and Early Coffee

Hi, my name is Thomas, Im a UCSB student, and I am worried about my daily caffeine intake. I

first started drinking coffee my sophomore year due to taking a 7am AP Biology course that

required to meet for lab. I started noticing a difference in my mornings during lab. I felt more

awake, energized, and happy to start my day. The days when I did not drink coffee felt slow,

torturous, and boring. Now in college, I am sleep-deprived due to endless amounts of homework
and have become dependent on coffee. On average, I drink three cups of coffee per day. Does

that sound too much? Can I wean off and stop drinking coffee completely?

First, caffeine is known as an addictive drug that affects several Americans. The image shown

below depicts the amount of caffeine in milligrams in each beverage.

Source: Mountain Strong Denver

Mayo Clinic research states that one cup of brewed coffee contains 95 mg, while one cup of

brewed black tea has 45 mg. The FDA estimates per capita caffeine intake at 184.5 mg/day for

the population 2 years and older. That comes out to an average of two cups of coffee daily for

the average American over the age of 2. Thats a lot of coffee per day. I wonder how many

coffee cups the average American adult drinks per day? According to a Harvard study, 3.1 cups

of coffee are consumed daily (HSPH). That sounds a little excessive.

I conducted a research study on UCSB students caffeine usage due to my surprised reaction to

Harvards recent study. I tested the correlation between high caffeine consumption levels and

little sleep. I asked 20 UCSB students the amount of caffeinated drinks consumed per day, their

preferred method of caffeine intake, their major, and the average amount of sleep per night.

Through data analysis, I found the average consumption rate of caffeine to be 1.1 cups. From my

results, students with demanding course loads and less sleep tended to drink more caffeine. For

consumption methods, 60% of students preferred coffee, 25% preferred yerba mates, 10% had no

preference, and 5% preferred caffeine in pill form. I found my results to be fascinating. For one,

I thought coffee would be much more popular considering I did not know what a Guayaki brand

Yerba Mate was until coming to UCSB. I also predicted that students would drink more coffee,

but I guess that means UCSB students are getting their full nine hours for sleep.

Most people
can find this
relatable

Source: QuotesPics
Whether we like it or not, caffeine is a magnet to college students it is inexpensive, easily

found, low in calorie, and a quick way to feel energized. A UCSB research study discovered that

coffee enhances ones memory with 12 ounces, or about 200 mg of caffeine (GradPost). But

not all caffeine brings positive effects. While coffee is low in calories, some people pack on high

levels of milk and sugar, leading to an unhealthy drink. In some cases, the energy received from

a cup of coffee ends up in a sugar rush instead of a caffeinated boost. Im not here to advocate

against coffee, but it is important to avoid adding unwanted sugars into your daily routine.

Okay, so youre addicted to caffeine. The majority of Americans are, so dont feel
alone. What are some steps you can take to wean off the addiction?

1. Stop drinking coffee for 8 days straight

A study by American University found that withdrawal symptoms go by at a rather fast

pace. The worst symptoms come within 20 to 51 hours after the last ingestion of
caffeine and symptoms will last usually between 2 and 9 days on average (National
Center for Biotech. Info).

2. Take proper medication to avoid painful headaches

By taking the right amount of Advil in the morning, you should feel little to no pain
from headaches or sense any type of nausea.

3. Workout to feel energized

Spend at least thirty minutes of exercise per day. Working out leads one to feel happy
and energized due to the release of endorphins in the brain.
 Basically, if you can go a few days without coffee, you should be able conquer your
battle with caffeine addiction. While the week may seem long and impossible, your
body will thank you in the long run!

Have you ever stopped your consumption of caffeine? How long did you stop for? Did

you suffer from withdrawal symptoms? Let me know in the comments below!

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Am I Addicted to Caffeine?

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Works Cited
"Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical
Education and Research, 14 Apr. 2017. Web. 11 May 2017.
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-
depth/caffeine/art-20049372>.
"Coffee by the Numbers." News. N.p., 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 11 May 2017.
<https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multimedia-article/facts/>.
"The GradPost at UC Santa Barbara - Life - Research Reveals 12 Ounces of Coffee Will Boost
Your Memory." UCSB GradPost. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.
 <http://archive.gradpost.ucsb.edu/life/2014/4/3/research-reveals-12-ounces-of-coffee-
will-boost-your-memory.html>.
"IAP Statement on Population and Consumption." Trends In The Sciences 17.7 (2012): n. pag.
FDA. Web.
<https://www.fda.gov/downloads/aboutfda/centersoffices/officeoffoods/cfsan/cfsanfoiael
ectronicreadingroom/ucm333191.pdf>.
Juliano, L. M., and R. R. Griffiths. "A Critical Review of Caffeine Withdrawal: Empirical
Validation of Symptoms and Signs, Incidence, Severity, and Associated Features."
Psychopharmacology. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2004. Web. 11 May 2017.
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977>.