When most of us think about addiction, substances like opioids, nicotine products and alcohol often come to mind. However, caffeine, despite its potential for dependence, is often overlooked and even dismissed as a drug.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), it’s estimated that 85% of adults regularly consume caffeine, with an average daily intake of around 180 mg per day. That equates to around two cups of coffee daily for the average adult. Another study conducted by Ahluwalia and Herrick reported that 75% of adolescents aged 6-19, consumed caffeine daily, with an average intake of 61 mg a day for 14-19 year olds.
“It’s like motivation in the morning,” said CHS junior Mariah Zeigler, an avid coffee drinker who consumes at least one cup daily. “I don’t know if I’d want to go without coffee—it’s something I look forward to when I wake up. During grueling tech weeks for CET, her intake spikes to three cups a day to combat fatigue.
“On a tired day, I drink one or two cups of coffee,” Zeigler said. “During tech week, I drank at least three coffees a day because I was really tired.”
Everywhere you look at Community High School, you’ll find caffeine. Whether it’s a Dragon Eye from Sweetwaters, an Alani Nu from Sparrow Market, or even a pre-workout shake, caffeinated beverages are a staple in students’ lives. Energy drinks, in particular, have become increasingly popular among adolescents.
“I used to love coffee,” said CHS sophomore Sophie Banta, who admits to being swept up in the trend. “But then I had bad coffee—like instant coffee—and now I can’t stand it. Recently, I’ve started preferring energy drinks. They taste better, though the problem is that some, like Celsius and Alani, have so much caffeine.”
The caffeine content in these beverages is precisely what health experts warn against. Michigan Medicine recommends a daily caffeine intake for adolescents aged 12–18 of around 100 milligrams. However, many teens far exceed this limit. For example, Sophie Banta estimates her daily caffeine intake to be around 300–400 mg. Others, like junior Arden Garver, who started drinking coffee in eighth grade, admit that the sugary flavors of energy drinks amplify their addictive appeal.
“Caffeine is definitely an addiction,” Garver said. “The flavors and artificial sugars make it worse. Without them, I don’t think people would drink as much.”
This sentiment is echoed by Banta, who pointed out that energy drink marketing, with its bright packaging and health-focused claims, misleads teens about the potential risks.
“Teens don’t realize caffeine is basically a drug,” Banta said. “You become dependent on it, and it can lead to health issues.”
Despite its normalization, the long-term health impacts and implications of excessive caffeine consumption can be devastating. Excessive caffeine consumption is linked to increased heart rate, anxiety and insomnia. In severe cases, it can lead to heart palpitations and even death.
“I’ve seen TikToks of people wearing heart monitors because they drank too many energy drinks,” Banta said. “It’s scary. Energy drinks also look appealing with pretty packaging and claims like ‘burns body fat’ or ‘boosts metabolism,’ which I don’t think are true.”
The risks are far from hypothetical. In 2017, 16-year-old Davis Cripe collapsed and died after consuming a latte, a large soft drink, and an energy drink in rapid succession. His death, caused by a caffeine-induced cardiac arrhythmia, shocked the nation and highlighted the hidden dangers of overconsumption.
Even for those who don’t experience the more severe health risks caused by caffeine, the cycle of dependence can be difficult to break. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue and irritability make it hard to reduce consumption, creating a vicious cycle. For students balancing school, extracurricular activities and social lives, caffeine can feel like a necessity rather than just a choice.
“It’s hard to stop drinking coffee or energy drinks once you’re used to them,” Garver said. “I tried cutting back, but the headaches and tiredness made it almost impossible.”
As caffeine drinks continue to grow, particularly among young people, it’s important to address their potential dangers. Responsible consumption and healthier alternatives and coping mechanisms are some ways Banta is looking to reduce her dependence.
“We need to teach teens that there are better ways to boost energy,” Banta said. “Drinking more water or getting enough sleep is much better than relying on caffeine. It’s not worth the health risks.”
While caffeine can be a helpful tool in moderation, it’s important to recognize its addictive nature and ask ourselves: Do we really need this? What is causing us to feel tired? Taking steps now can prevent it from becoming a larger problem down the line.
“Sometimes we rely on caffeine to fix problems that could be solved by better habits,” Zeigler said. “Instead of asking why we’re so tired, we just grab another coffee or energy drink, and that’s not sustainable.”
