The country's most used recreational drug, innocently concealed in Hershey's bars, coffee cups and Mountain Dew cans, will likely be consumed more often as the end of the semester winds down here at UW-Madison.
\On a college campus, there are a lot of people who use a lot of drugs-with not very serious consequences,"" said UW-Madison Research Associate Matthew Andrzejewski. ""We use drugs all the time-nicotine, alcohol, caffeine.""
All of us use caffeine, but not everyone knows what it does.
Most college students use caffeine for increased energy. ""I use caffeine when I need the extra boost to stay up studying,"" said UW-freshman Stephanie Baker.
Caffeine can speed up our alertness by sending different chemical messages within the body. One way caffeine acts as a chemical message is by functioning as a neurotransmitter, which transmits messages between nerve cells in the brain called neurons. According to Andrzejewski, there are many types of neurons in the brain. Once the neuron releases neurotransmitters, it can communicate a chemical message to the next cell. Caffeine speeds up the communication between these neurons.
When two of these nerve cells align, the branchlike axon of one triangular cell intermingles with sites on the surface of the other cell. Neurotransmitters are released from the first cell and if they fit into the site of the other cell, a chemical message is successfully conveyed. Sometimes, these messages can then tell the cell to produce hormones such as adrenaline.
Even without caffeine, your body still produces adrenaline. Natural chemicals within the body are fighting over receptors on the surface of neurons. Stress stimulates neurons to release a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, which then combines to the receptors of other nerve cells. After acetylcholine binds to the receptors, it stimulates the cell to release the hormone adrenaline, which speeds up bodily processes.
However, the body also has adenosine, which blocks the release of energy- packed adrenaline. Without adenosine, nerve cell activities slow down, causing us to feel drowsy. Caffeine has the opposite effect of this hormone, causing neuron activity to speed up.
Caffeine essentially mimics adrenaline, which nearly doubles the effects that stress normally has on the body: tensed muscles, excitement and increased heartbeats. For this reason, if you are already stressed, caffeine may only make it worse.
""People think 'I need some coffee,' but recognize, there's a trade-off-you can be more alert and anxious too,"" said Robert McGrath, Director of Counseling and Consultation Services at University Health Services at UW-Madison.
McGrath emphasized the distinction between anxiety and stress. Anxiety is being preoccupied with one event, like finals, and caused by only an internal trigger. Stress is feeling overwhelmed by many things, a situation familiar to many students.
Anxiety is the most common psychological disorder in the United States. Coupling that with the fact that caffeine is the No. 1 recreational drug in the United States is worrisome. Researchers generally recognize caffeine as a substance that produces anxiety.
""I'm not suggesting everyone gives up coffee,"" said McGrath, ""but if you're prone to being anxious, the last thing you want to do is have a stimulant in your system.""
The amount of caffeine you consume can also affect anxiety.
""High doses of caffeine can also cause anxiety by over-activating neurons,"" Andrzejewski said.
So what is a healthy dosage of caffeine? A general recommendation put out by the USDA is that adults should have no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day, children no more than 100. For adults, this is equivalent to about three cups of coffee, six cokes or 12 iced teas.
It's estimated a normal dose of caffeine is about 100 milligrams, an amount which, depending on the person, lasts for about twelve hours. Caffeine dependence is associated with consuming over the USDA's limit of about 400 to 500 milligrams of caffeine per day.
To many caffeine junkies, one cup of coffee no longer does the trick. But is it possible to become addicted to caffeine, or is it all just a bad habit? Caffeine hasn't caught the attention of many researchers since its effects seem harmless compared to other drugs.
""Caffeine hasn't received a lot of attention-it's more of a vice than a problem,"" Andrzejewski said. ""You can become addicted to caffeine, but it is very minor. To overdose, it's something like 100 cups of coffee. You'd probably become so shaky, you couldn't drink anymore."" However, he added, ""Caffeine does fit the three parts of the drug addiction profile-tolerance, withdrawal and craving,"" elements that make up the addiction now referred to as ""caffeinism.""
As the brain learns to develop tolerances for caffeine, it also develops a tolerance to learning with caffeine.
""It works when I don't want it to work,"" UW-Madison sophomore Megan Buhrandt said. ""I take it and it doesn't do anything all day."" Megan, like many other college students, has likely developed a higher tolerance for caffeine, needing more to feel the same effects.
Most are familiar with the unpleasant feeling that comes when caffeine is not present in our systems, or caffeine withdrawal.
""Your receptors are wondering where the drug is, and that bad feeling is instantly alleviated by taking the drug,"" Andrzejewski said.
This situation can lead to the third aspect of drug addiction, craving, or needing more caffeine, more often. ""I use caffeine two to three times a day, four on a bad day,"" said Megan. ""Pills are my form of choice, then coffee.""
The public perception of caffeine as beneficial for learning has not changed much since the 1960's caffeine advertising campaign entitled ""The Think Drink."" According to the 2002 book The World of Caffeine, ""Caffeine improves the performance of simple, familiar, routine tasks, and it impairs or fails to affect the accomplishment of complex, novel, unpracticed tasks.""
Similarly, keep this in mind: ""With caffeine, you're going to be quicker, but you might not see as many connections as if you were relaxed,"" McGrath said.
The theory of state-dependent learning, which states that recalling information may depend on where you were or what state you were in when you learned it, has gained significant ground in recent years. This way of learning works when neural cells are formed together, creating a specific memory, and connect to neural networks. State- dependent learning holds true for physical conditions. For instance, if you study with caffeine in your system, you would be better off taking the test with caffeine.
Rest assured there are numerous healthy alternatives that can boost your awareness and reduce stress as college students. Instead of stressing about an assignment or exam, McGrath suggests taking a break to go for a short walk, or if you are in the library, go up and down a few flights of stairs.
Andrzejewski offered practical advice which often is overlooked: It's better to ""read your notes each day, instead of trying to cram.""
