Caffeine is arguably the most readily available drug on the CORE Butte campus, with many students relying on it to stay awake during long school days. But exactly how much are students partaking in, and how much is too much?
Some students are satisfied with their caffeine consumption and feel that it’s a healthy part of their lifestyle.
“I would say I usually have about two shots of espresso a day, and maybe even a tea later on,” Senior Amanda Mabie said. Amanda thinks this is a reasonable amount for a student to have on a daily basis.
Other students take notice of the fact that their caffeine intake may have become an unhealthy habit.
“Probably like 1800 milligrams,” sophomore Josh Iler said, when asked how much caffeine he has per week. For context, that is about equivalent to 19 eight-ounce cups of coffee. “I feel like that might be a lot,” he continued, stifling a laugh. “I don’t drink coffee; I have energy drinks and caffeine pills,” Josh said. “Pills are so bad for you because they, like, cook your stomach. Red Bulls only!”
Caffeine pills are legal for minors to purchase in California, but consumption by kids is not recommended due to the high dosage. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 12 should not consume any caffeine, and teens aged 12-18 should limit their intake to 100mg or less.
Lance Tennis, a freshman, also seemed a bit concerned with his own caffeine intake. “How much caffeine is in five Red Bulls?” Lance asked when questioned about his weekly consumption. “It’s definitely more than I should have. I just feel so tired in the mornings.”
Gabriella Jarvis, a freshman, says that she normally has two mugs of coffee and one chai every day. “Weekends are worse, I have like four mugs a day!” Gabriella said of her coffee-drinking habits.
However, not all students are participating in caffeine consumption. Some students prefer non-caffeinated alternatives when choosing a beverage.
“The closest I get to caffeine drinks is iced tea,” Bradly Breevart, a junior, said. “I’ve just never really been into caffeine; it’s never appealed to me,” he continued. Bradly seems to be an outlier here at CORE Butte, rejecting the buzz and jitters of caffeinated beverages in favor of an iced tea.
“I actually had to step in on a kid who had a seizure triggered by, I think, he had two or three energy drinks,” ASL teacher Ken Noble said. “I thought he was having a heart attack; he was shaking and sweating profusely.”.
“ There is no upside to caffeine; kids think it gives them energy, it actually doesn’t,” Noble said.
But when asked about his own consumption, Mr Noble painted a different picture. “Probably two cups per day, but by two cups I mean more like 10-ounce cups instead of the smaller ones,” Noble said. “I know there are mixed reviews on caffeine and the impact, but the consensus seems to be that a moderate amount is fine, so I try to keep it as such,” Mr. Noble concluded.
