Caffeine

By Constance, Cassandra and Mary

 WHAT IS CAFFEINE?
Caffeine is a type of drug that increases the activity of the brain and the nervous system.

—Caffeine is naturally found in the leaves and fruits of some plants. It is in coffee, black
and green tea, cocoa, cola soft drinks and energy drinks. It may also be in chocolate bars,
energy bars and some non-prescription medications, such as cough syrup and slimming
tablets. Guarana (a popular additive in energy drinks) is also a natural source of caffeine.
—Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it increases activity in your brain and nervous
system. It also increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in
the body. 
—In small doses, caffeine can make you feel refreshed and focused. In large doses,
caffeine can make you feel anxious and have difficulty sleeping.
—Like many other drugs, it’s possible to develop a tolerance to caffeine, which means
you need bigger and bigger doses to achieve the same effect
 Classification
The Food and Drug Administration has published a
final monograph for caffeine as an OTC stimulant
that allows companies to market these products
with no further review or approval from the agency.
It is generally recognised as a safe substance.
 Law and consequences
-In US, the Food Standards Code stipulates that formulated
caffeinated beverages must contain no less than 145 mg and no
more than 320 mg of caffeine. The FDA's guidance states
that dietary supplements containing pure or highly concentrated
caffeine are considered unlawful when sold directly to consumers.
While this does not place caffeine on a controlled substance
schedule, it does impose penalties on the companies
manufacturing and selling these products.
-In UK, there are no legal restrictions on the sale or use of coffee,
tea, cocoa, soft drinks and chocolate confectionery. Certain
medicines which contain caffeine may only be available on a
doctor's prescription.
Affects of Caffeine
Positive effects: Negative effects:
(Only if you drink a SUITABLE amount)
-depression
-increase in alertness -increase in blood sugar
-increase in energy -Infertility
-increase ability to concentrate -bladder problems
-weight loss -headaches
-improved athletic performance -fast or uneven heartbeat
-improved memory -high blood pressure
-improved liver function -dependency
-reduced risk of stroke -irritability
-heartburn
-muscle tremors
 Cost of Caffeine

According to “The Cord”, 330mg of

caffeine will cost around $2 USD
(£1.66)on average
 Support
You can go to a lot of places for support, here are a few:
-NHS
-Rehab Spot
-Addiction Centre
-Rehab Clinics Group
-Caffeine Addicts Anonymous
You can also go online and search for their website to look for
support!
If you are too embarrassed to ask for support, you can deal with
caffeine addiction on your own, caffeine addiction can be resolved
in 7-12 days of consumption reduction, during that period, the
brain will decrease the number of adenosine receptors on each cell
in response to the sudden lack of caffeine.