Multitudes of elements, ranging from language to food to religions and moremake up diverse cultures around the world. When discussing American culture, productivity is a trait that comes to mind. The chosen fuel to make sure this productivity keeps happening is caffeine. Caffeine is a chemical compound that has an extensive history and is identified as a stimulant by many drug organizations. It was identified in 1819 but it has been consumed as teas and coffee long before then. Around the 1980s is when media began to depict caffeine as a possible addictive substance and question whether Americans should be consuming as much caffeine as they do. The stimulant works by blocking adenosine receptors, which usually cue the brain that it needs to sleep. In modern society, products such as beverages, medications, candies, and others are pumped with caffeine and made readily available to the public. Since caffeine is in so many products, people are not aware of how much caffeine they consume daily. The recommendation for adults is about 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, however, many individuals will have mild overdose symptoms before they even get to that many milligrams. Caffeine is considered an addictive drug and users who stop consuming it will have withdrawal symptoms-such as a headache. Due to genetics and other biological factors, caffeine affects every individual differently so the tolerance level can vary in each person. Children, however, consume caffeine at an alarming rate because there are few regulations on how much caffeine products can have in them before it needs to be listed on the packaging. The effects of caffeine on children are unknown except that they are smaller, so it takes less caffeine to affect them. Due to the social aspects surrounding caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, more kids are consuming caffeine regularly and ultimately forming addictions.Society needs to better educate themselves on caffeine and its side effects to regain control over their bodies.

A CULTURE ON CRACK

     Cultures involve the language, food, music, traditions, and much more of certain individuals that one element can't make up an entire culture. To claim that one aspect could summarize the entirety of a group's social behavior would be ignorant. However, some parts play a bigger role than individuals realize. In the United States, there is a prominent presence of productivity culture. The pressure to perform and perform well is so large that humans buzz around the nation before the sun even rises to get just one step ahead. A majority of those people though are not empty-handed. An aroma of coffee will fill the air as they line up at shops, drive-throughs, carts, and wherever else they can get a cup of coffee to kickstart their brains. Other people will have teas and still, some carry cans of energy drinks that promise hours of steady and fast energy. No matter how they choose to consume it, caffeine is the staple of the American morning. It is the fuel that keeps Americans going throughout their day and an altar that socialization worships at. One of the most fascinating things is that caffeine has been present in culture for some time, simply in different forms. Due to the lack of education on caffeine's effects, modern society abuses it and is more affected than they are even aware of. It is important to educate society on the substance of caffeine so they can understand how it is used and impacts their lives.

     Caffeine was not identified as a compound until 1819, despite individuals drinking coffee and tea long before then (The Atlantic). It was a well-known tradition to drink coffee and tea for social reasons as well as to keep people moving. As trade and travel expanded widely, so did the availability and consumption of coffee. "1946 was the best year for coffee drinking performance in the US. The average person drank 47 million gallons per year-that is twice as much as we do now" (The Atlantic). While this shows caffeine was a significant part of the American lifestyle, there was little recognition in popular culture of it as an addictive substance. Ina 1982 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, an Open Forum article read "Are you a Caffeine Addict? Java junkies, tea tipplers, and cola cravers remain largely unaware that they may be hooked on a habit-forming drug" (Zander). This goes to show that caffeine has been a staple of the American diet far earlier than the present, where white paper cups litter the streets of big cities. Despite this early attempt at bringing attention to the side-effects of caffeine, this one article does not represent America's attitude towards caffeine as a society. It does, however, demonstrate an increased knowledge about the substance by saying that caffeine "is an alkaloid present in various amounts in many plant species, these mostly from the tropics and subtropics" which shows a more developed definition than simply being called a chemical compound (Zander).

     The substances that contain this compound are varied and sometimes surprising. There are the obvious products such as energy drinks and coffee beverages that contain large amounts of caffeine. According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia, one espresso shot generally contains 145 milligrams of caffeine per 50-milliliter cup (Alcohol and Drug Foundation). Teas and sodas also contain various amounts of caffeine. One of the more shocking items that contain significant caffeine dosages is medicines. "Caffeine is added to many popular soft drinks and is also a component of a number of pharmacological preparations and over-the-counter medicines including analgesics, diet-aids, and cold/flu remedies" (Coffee and Health). Even chocolate is known to contain caffeine, averaging at 10 milligrams per 50 grams for milk chocolate (Alcohol and Drug Foundation). If individuals want to be aware of how many milligrams they are consuming, they need to read the packaging of food, beverages, medications, candies, and all other products. Unfortunately, there are few regulations on how much caffeine can be in food and drinks, resulting in a higher exposure rate than people are aware of.

     The National Capital Poison Center suggests that adults do not consume over 400 to 500 milligrams of caffeine per day, depending on their sensitivity to the compound (Soloway). This recommendation is useless when people do not recognize how much caffeine they do consume, whether they are actively choosing to consume it or not. 400 milligrams are enough to cover about "four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two 'energy shot' drinks" (Mayo Clinic). The average American can easily finish half a pot of coffee on their own during the workday without noticing how many times they have refilled their favorite mug-well exceeding the 100 milligrams it takes to begin forming an addiction (Kristjansson). The most dangerous forms of caffeine are powder and liquid because they deliver toxic levels of the substance. "Just one teaspoon of powdered caffeine is equivalent to about 28 cups of coffee. Such high levels of caffeine can cause serious health problems and possibly death" (Mayo Clinic). Luckily, those forms of caffeine are restricted in their availability for consumption. Another scary aspect of caffeine is how fast the absorption rate is. Once it is consumed, caffeine is completely absorbed into the blood and body tissues after about 45 minutes (Coffeeand Health). Everyone’s body handles caffeine differently so the amount of time they experience effects from the caffeine can vary. “Everybody metabolizes caffeine differently. That’s because your genetics, age, weight, tolerance, and liver all play a role in how quickly you process caffeine” (Raymond).

     Regardless of how they get it, individuals who consume caffeine regularly are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when they miss their daily dosage. Caffeine is a stimulant and is classified as a drugby many organizations. Too much in a short period can result in irregular heart rate, tremors, nausea, rapid breathing, panic attacks, or increase anxiety symptoms (Alcohol and Drug Foundation). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists many caffeine-induced illnesses, including: "caffeine intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety, and caffeine-induced sleep disorders" (Kristjansson). These symptoms and diagnoses are a result of how stimulants affect the human brain. Adenosine is a chemical that helps induce sleepiness by binding to specific receptors in the brain, but caffeine prevents adenosine from doing its job. "Caffeine acts as a molecular mimic, filling and blocking the adenosine receptor, preventing the body's natural ability to be able to rest when it's tired" (Merritt). This effect can be compared to trying to pull over to a rest stop during a road trip, but someone has cut the brakes out of the car. The good news is that eventually, the car will run out of gas. "You can only postpone fatigue for so long before the body's regulatory systems begin to fail, leading to simple things like the jitters, but also more serious effects like anxiety or insomnia" (Merritt). The body can build up a tolerance to caffeine and become reliant on using it to keep the brain going. When the stimulant gets taken away, the body does not know how to react so it goes into withdrawal-resulting in headaches, mood swings, and fatigue that can last for days until the body reregulates itself (Kristjansson).

     Different biological factors can change how people experience a caffeine high. One of these factors that are being studied is gender. The Journal of Applied Social Psychology performed a study that tested whether caffeine would make men or women more effective in stressful situations. The study found such a variety of results that they could not statistically accept their hypothesis, however, they did find a trend that employees who consumed caffeine believed their stressful task would turn out worse than others' tasks (St. Claire). Despite this, there was no correlation to gender. Other factors are more likely to affect how bodies process caffeine. For example, the adenosine receptors discussed earlier can look different in individuals. "Different people respond to caffeine differently. At least some variation is from having different forms of that adenosine receptor, the molecule that caffeine binds to and blocks. There are likely other sites of genetic variation as well" (Merritt). Each body’s physiology is unique, so it is reasonable that other characteristics impact caffeine responses more than gender.

     Logically,an individual’s genetic material could be the cause of their reaction to caffeine. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is what makes up the genes of the body and no two individuals have the same copy of DNA, except identical twins. Dr. Amy Yang, a renowned researcher of caffeine, performed a study using twins where she measured their heritability of caffeine sensitivity. Essentially, if a set of twins both experience a similar reaction to caffeine then it would make sense that caffeine responses are linked to genetic diversity. Dr. Yang did have significant findings that confirmed genetics play a role in caffeine response. "Genetic diversity can influence a response to caffeine and consumption pattern in many ways... Diversity can also directly alter response such that the individual experiences caffeine more positively or negatively" (Yang). The specifics of the results found varying forms of certain receptors and body processes such as metabolism, metabolic enzyme P-450, adenosine receptors A1 and A2A, and possibly dopamine (Yang). This alludes to that caffeine could have longer or more negative effects on people with lower sensitivities to the stimulant since it can be processed differently in their bodies.

     While these findings are impactful, people are often not aware of how caffeine affects them until they have already consumed it. Other consumers simply do not care about their negative reactions and want the caffeine buzz to keep them going. With 9 out of 10 Americans using the stimulant at an average of 300 milligrams a day, the caffeine business is not in danger of dying anytime soon (Miller). With the rise of caffeine consumption, so has the frequency of caffeine overdoses. While overdosing on caffeine to the point of death is rare, the overdose symptoms are unpleasant and can occur in various severity. The Mayo Clinic claims that side effects such as headache, insomnia, nervousness, irritability, frequent urination, fast heartbeat, and muscle tremor would be reasons to cut back caffeine intake or even stop altogether (Mayo Clinic). To cut caffeine out of daily routines, the Mayo Clinic suggests that individuals keep tabs on their caffeine consumption, cut back gradually, switch to decaf coffees and teas, shorten the brew time of teas, and check the bottles of medications for caffeine (Mayo Clinic).

     There will always be individuals who never learn to control their caffeine consumption and would rather have awful side effects than withdrawal symptoms. While the negative effects of caffeine will not necessarily endanger a person, they need to monitor their cardiovascular symptoms. The dizziness that can be caused by caffeine is because there is not enough blood getting pumped to the brain (Raymond). By causing increased heart rate and irregular heart rhythms, caffeine can also intensify the symptoms of anxiety. "So if you have a predisposition to anxiety or panic attacks, caffeine may exacerbate those feelings" (Raymond). The recommendations for waiting out the caffeine jitters are to stop caffeine intake for the day, drink plenty of water, replace electrolytes, go for a walk, and practice deep breathing (Raymond). Those activities will not make the symptoms subside, but they may make them more tolerable. Caffeine has a half-life of about 4 hours, however, the effects can last longer in some individuals based on their sensitivity to the compound (Coffee and Health). An important note to point out is that if someone is a habitual caffeine user they should not increase their daily intake. Once the body anticipates the compound every day the brain begins to accept it as a natural helper and adding caffeine will only increase negative symptoms (Miller).

      People assume that individuals who are more sensitive to caffeine would drink fewer caffeine products, such as coffee. This is not necessarily the case though. Too many people are reliant on the stimulant to get them through the day by trying to substitute sleep with cups of coffee in the morning. Other people drink coffee specifically because they want the antioxidants that come with the caffeine (Merritt). There have even lines drawn between moderate coffee consumption and a decrease in risk for liver cancer."Overall, drinking coffee has been associated with up to a 40% reduced risk of liver cancer compared to those who do not drink coffee" (Coffee and Health). This goes to show that caffeine in moderation is not something that needs to be avoided, just consumed with caution. There can be slight benefits if individuals healthily consume caffeine, but it is also unclear if the same positive effects can be traced in caffeinated products such as soda or energy drinks. It is safe to assume that a daily cup or two of coffee will not be enough to cause harm to the body. “If you take pleasure in your daily coffee, tea, or cola ritual, there is no reason to stop enjoying it. But remember, your preferences you’re your ritual may have been shaped by those withdrawal symptoms that you work to avoid every day” (Miller). Every individual needs to evaluate their bodily response to caffeine to determine what is the appropriate amount for them to consume.

     The same rule about moderation cannot be applied to children. Caffeine can have unknown effects on children because their brains are still developing, and their bodies are much smaller than an adult. The reaction to such a strong stimulant is so varied in adults that it is extremely risky to give it to young children. Despite the unknown dangers of giving caffeine to kids, the variety of sources to get it from makes it difficult for parents to know what they are giving their children. Plenty of common foods for kids, from soda to certain candies, contain substantial amounts of caffeine. "We know less about the effects of caffeine on developing brains. We don't know how much-or how little-caffeine is safe for children and adolescents" (Soloway). Part of the problem is that the regulations around caffeine-containing products are random and can be confusing. To catch all of the caffeine in their children's diet, parents would have to read every package that they consume-which is just not realistic. For example, soft drinks and vitamins can have the same amount of caffeine in them and parents would never know. "If a soft drink contains caffeine, the caffeine content is regulated. If a beverage is marketed as a dietary supplement, current regulations don't apply" (Soloway). This lack of regulation plus increased advertising makes it easy for caffeine to slip into children's diets unnoticed.

     Then there is the age group of rebels and young teenagers who actively seek out caffeinated products, fueled by a desire to try all the new and exciting risks in life. Dr. Kristjansson performed a study to explore excessive caffeine usage in middle school students and whether it leads to other addictive behaviors, such as smoking or alcohol use. It was first found that a majority of middle school students do consume caffeine daily from a wide range of sources, at an average of 253 milligrams per day (Kristjansson). Some findings confirmed that kids who consume caffeine are more likely to engage in other negative behaviors. "We found that caffeine consumption was associated with increases in lifetime use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and alcohol, and life-time experience of drunkenness" (Kristjansson). This study did lack considering the new methods that companies use to direct caffeinated products towards younger children. At the grocery store, people can find almost anything with added caffeine in it-gum, bottled water, ice cream, chocolate, marshmallows, and many more products (Soloway).

Certainly, children are consuming even more caffeine in their diet than the Kristjansson study reported since it only focused on well-known sources of caffeine. Referencing the idea that teens want to experiment with new substances raises the question if kids are consuming these substances because of the effects or because of the image they want to attain with their peers.

     The most popular sources of caffeine for middle school kids and teenagers are energy drinks and coffee. Energy drinks, with their bright colors and promises of performance enhancement, are obvious choices for younger individuals. Coffee stands out as a more off-putting choice. It seems odd that groups of sugar-loving teens would choose to gather to drink a bitter-tasting beverage when they have more appealing options. However, there is an argument that perhaps teens are not going to coffeehouses for the drinks specifically. American culture has painted cafes as havens from the world of bustle and it attracts young adults looking for a place they will not be judged for not being productive. Taylor Clark talks about this ploy in his book Starbucked:A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and Culture that discusses the methods and rise of the popular Starbucks coffee chain. "For those seeking a refuge from the world, the cup of coffee they bought was really just the price of admission to partake of the coffeehouse scene" (Clark). Nowhere else can an individual buy a drink and enjoy the establishment's atmosphere for hours on end either alone or with friends. The hook though is that the caffeine in the drinks is addictive. As a café becomes a staple in a person's life, so does that daily dose of caffeine. “Coffee is a cornerstone of modern life, and the busier we all become, the more we rely on it to pull us through the day” (Clark). They could be forming an addiction and not even be aware of it.

     Caffeine has become so ingrained in American culture that millions of people are consuming it daily and do not even know it. The addictive stimulant has been integrated into

diets through well-known products such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks but also new sources such as candy and medications. While there is nothing inherently wrong with moderate caffeine consumption, it can have extremely negative side effects that need to be addressed. With directed advertising and increased pressure to partake in the social scene of caffeine, children are beginning to consume the substance at younger ages. Especially with the unknown responses of children to caffeine, parents need to be aware of the amount of caffeine in their kids' diets. Every individual experiences caffeine in a different way due to biological factors but education on this topic is the first step of breaking a cycle of addiction that could threaten someone's health. If people were more intentional with their caffeine consumption, they could become more in control of their bodies and energy levels. Pushing through the temporary withdrawal symptoms could be worth the pain for caffeine-sensitivity individuals who experience intense side-effects from consuming caffeine. America simply needs more educated consumers who are willing to reconsider their caffeine habits and possibly reshape them.

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