Caffeine can be effectively used instead of adderall for concentration
Caffeine can be effectively used instead of adderall for concentration
Many college students misuse prescription stimulants like Adderall. But a new study from the University of Wyoming finds that caffeine may be a safe and…
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This is a weird study, or at least article on the study. Basically, "over the counter stimulant still works as a stimulant," was their conclusion, which-- yeah? That's-- that's what stimulants do? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding it here.
If the study aims to get less people to misuse Adderall, great, but I don't know that recommending that folks take caffeine supplements (which are poorly regulated as both supplements and food additives) as a 'safe and effective alternative' is a good idea.
That's a good point. I mainly thought it was interesting that people discount caffeine. It can be a very powerful stimulant and even for some people I know who are diagnosed with adhd an alternative to adderall. I'd only heard it from them though and never seen anything about it.
Caffeine supplements can be dangerous when misused but so can lots of other things. I would argue that promoting coffee and tea as a natural source of caffeine is much better than supplements
The issue is simply that, because of the unregulated nature of it, caffeine is working its way into tons of things one might not think to find it. From fruity drinks to candy bars to simple snacks. They're doing this because, as a stimulant, you feel 'good' from consuming it, and it has addictive properties.
But coming from so many sources, many of whom are putting dangerous levels of caffeine in their products (such as Panera Bread with their ~400mg of caffeine in a single large lemonade!! for comparison, a cup of coffee has only ~90mg) with little to no warning or labeling, is literally going to kill people from heart arrhythmia if they have undiagnosed issues or aren't given proper warning.
Eh the charged lemonade issue isn't all that big I would say. 30 oz of liquid is a lot and 400 mg of caffeine is only like 2 energy drinks which. The warning part is misleading though I agree. I drank quite a few of them before I realized they were caffeinated. They should be way more transparent about what's in their drinks
400mg is the upper limit of what a healthy adult should consume in a 4hr period. I can easily crush a Trenta Pink Drink from Starbucks in like, 25mins if I'm thirsty. But not all adults are healthy, in fact, most aren't. If you read my linked article, those drinks alone can cause caffeine toxicity in really short order. Especially for people using Panera to telework or study in a place with decent food, wifi, and free refills who just keep going back for more, unknowing of the danger they're putting themselves in.
It's insidious too, because while stimmed up on caffeine, they'll find they 'work better' when they're in a Panera, thus creating the wholly intentional feedback loop of wanting to work/study there more often.
Hmm that's a good point, however the article you linked said that they are unlikely to be lethal even if probably unsafe for part of the population. It is essentially an energy drink and should be seen as such
The study I posted in my initial comment notes how easy it is to reach near lethal levels for a healthy adult (second article, as well as myself, notes that most folks aren't healthy) with the current trend of supplements, powders, and additives in other foods. Other studies have noted that high/toxic levels of caffeine can and does lead to varying types of death, including suicide, but also major cardiovascular issues.
We don't take it seriously enough, but we've always done this. Used to put cocaine in cola too. Regulations just haven't caught up with it yet.