What would you say is the most used psychoactive drug in the world? Most people would be tempted to say more dangerous substances such as alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or maybe even cocaine. However, with a staggering worldwide use of over 80%, it’s caffeine. One of the most fiercely debated topics in the health scene is the benefits and drawbacks of caffeine consumption. However, the topic of addiction-related caffeine disorders is often overlooked. In this post, I will uncover the latest studies, personal testimonies, and symptoms of caffeine addiction.
Firstly, I would like to highlight the statistical significance of caffeine dependence using a study conducted in Saudi Arabia. In this study, 600 individuals were measured based on their frequency of caffeine use, and using the DSM-IV model, were given an official diagnosis. The results were quite shocking to say the least: 94.3% who participated in the study consumed caffeine to some degree, 47.7% were caffeine dependent, and 60.9% were diagnosed as addicted [1].
Additionally, a study conducted by the CDC highlights the increase in caffeine consumption among youth. We see that more than 70% of individuals aged 12-19 consume some form of caffeine daily. Although this isn’t necessarily an addiction, to have such a high percentage of individuals consuming caffeine at a young age has implications for building an addiction when they get older [2].
The value of these findings is not to condemn those who drink caffeine; rather, these statistics just highlight the large percentage of individuals who are dependent on caffeine on a day-to-day basis. Caffeine has its fair share of benefits: improved physical performance, increased alertness, healthy liver enzyme levels, and potential decrease in DNA damage etc. However, it is important to note that these benefits are also dependent on the type of caffeine consumed and amount of caffeine consumed.
With the potential benefits listed out, you may be tempted to ask Why is a caffeine addiction something to worry about? In hindsight, this question is broad and nuanced. However, in my opinion, being addicted to any particular substance has its definite drawbacks. To put this into perspective, I asked my friend Anish. Anish is my roommate in College, and I have lived with him for the past 8 months, being able to see his caffeine addiction firsthand.
Every morning when I wake up I’ll see him brewing black coffee. I remember asking him, “Do you like the taste of black coffee?”. He firmly nodded his head, but also relinquished the fact that he needed to have caffeine before the day began. “It’s always the first thing on my mind”. I then asked, “What happens if you aren’t able to have caffeine?”. He began to list a multitude of withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, feelings of restlessness, and immense fatigue. Although I see his dependence on caffeine on a day-to-day basis, I was startled by the symptoms he described.
Although not having a caffeine addiction myself, being able to dive into the research and personal testimonies gave me a newfound perspective for those who have caffeine dependencies/addictions.