Scituate High School students are facing a new epidemic–an epidemic far more contagious than a common winter cold–an epidemic that takes a toll on students’ mental and physical health: The Caffeine Craze.
As you enter any SHS classroom, especially in the morning, you see countless students sipping Strawberry Açai refreshers from Starbucks, Raspberry Red Bulls from Mary Lou’s, and Iced Caramel Swirls from Dunkin. Teenagers at SHS have incorporated purchasing caffeinated beverages into their morning routines, and we are seeing the effects of this craze.
Every (late start) Wednesday morning, Cohasset Starbucks is bombarded with hundreds of orders from high school students, specifically SHS students. We spoke with an employee who reported they primarily see “older middle school to high school students” ordering the Strawberry Açai refresher. This popular beverage contains around 100 mg of caffeine in the Venti (Starbucks’ large), approximately the same amount as a Red Bull.
When asked how much caffeine they consume on a daily basis, a class of 24 SHS upperclassmen shared these statistics: nine students said they drink at least one caffeinated beverage, and two said they drink more than one caffeinated beverage daily. When a class of 24 freshmen was asked the same question, 22 students said they drink caffeinated beverages daily.
According to Michigan Medicine, children ages 12 to 18 should cap their daily caffeine intake at 100 milligrams. If students drink a Strawberry Açai refresher on top of a Red Bull or coffee, they consume 200 milligrams of caffeine daily.
Although high school students may feel as though they need caffeine to get them going in the morning, too much caffeine can have the opposite effect, diminishing their academic performance.
Caffeine can create heart problems and make anxiety worse. Excessive caffeine intake by teenagers has been associated with several detrimental health effects, such as nervousness, irritability, nausea, lack of concentration, and sleep impairment. Caffeine dependence can also lead to caffeine addiction, which can contribute to calcium depletion, bone loss, and bone fractures. Some students might not even know they’re at risk because these symptoms can be associated with other lifestyle choices.
The next time you consider purchasing a Strawberry Açai refresher or a Red Bull before school, consider all the effects that morning boost can have on your body, academics, and long-term health.