CAFFEINE
Facts About The Drug
What It Is
Names: Caffeine, pep pill.
Type: Psychoactive.
Forms: White, crystalline powder solution. Seeds of Coffea arabia (coffee). Leaves of Thea sinensis (Tea). Seeds of Theobroma cacao (cocoa, chocolate). Leaves of ilex paraguariensis (yerba mate). Kola nuts of cola acuminata (cola drinks). Combinations: with ASA and/or codeine (cold and cough medications). With ergotamine (cafergot). With PPA and ephedrine (look-a-like amphetamine). With theophylline or dextrose (stimulants).
Usage: Swallowed as coffee, tea, cola, soft drink beverage or as tablet/capsule medication. Eaten as chocolate product or ingredient. Injected in sodium benzoate solution.
Legal Status: Legal. Amyl nitrate by prescription.
Other Forms: Migraine and other headache treatment (cafergot, Fiorinal, Fioricet). Pain relievers (Anacin, Vanquish, Excedrin, Midol, Darvon, Synalgos-DC, DGA). Muscle relaxant (Norgesic, Forte). Cold/allergy treatment (Coryban-D). Diuretic (Aqua-Ban). Pep pill (No Doz, Vivarin).
What It Feels Like
Slightly elevated mood. Alertness. Sensitivity of touch, smell, sight, and hearing, nervousness. Irritability, insomnia, tremors, depression.
What It Does
To Your Mind: Stimulates central nervous system.
To Your Body: Constricts cerebral blood vessels, increases blood flow in body, stimulates heart, increases basal metabolic rate, limits glucose metabolism, relaxes some smooth muscles, increases urine flow.
Special Characteristics: Caffeine shortens sleep time, reduces depth of sleep, increases early dream-state sleep. Coffee drinking combined with tobacco smoking intensifies elevated blood pressure effect. Caffeine is a substitute for amphetamine street drugs.
How It Can Hurt You
Rapid, irregular heart beat, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, urine acid, tremors, convulsions, headache, effects of "caffeinism" (ringing in the ears, extreme sensitivity to pain or touch), sleep disorders, possible cancer causing effects, withdrawal effects.
Death from convulsion, heart and breathing problems caused by overdose. Lower doses can be fatal for children.
Dependence develops with tolerance to effects and psychological need for ritual, such as morning coffee.
Unborn children may be affected by caffeine passed through placental barrier.
When To Get Help
- Do you feel that you need your "pick-me-up" before beginning a day or project?
- Do you drink more than two cups of coffee a day?
- Is your work or school performance affected by your drug use?
- Are you having problems with family and friends?
- Are you spending more on drugs than you can afford?
- Do you use a variety of drugs?
One "yes" and your common sense tells you it's time to get smart about drugs and the rest of your life.
Fact: Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world, for children and adults.
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