Pano perspective

24 out of 24 Panorama staff members agree

Starbucks lattes and Celsius energies have become fixed pieces of classroom decor. Perched atop desks and cradled between hands, caffeinated drinks are now established parts of the school day. As we push through 6 a.m. wake-up calls, afternoon math tests and nighttime study sessions, caffeine is our crutch. It’s an extra limb we’ve grown to lean on. But once taken away, we lose balance and tumble down the abyss of drowsiness.

To keep from falling asleep in class, we heavily rely on caffeinated beverages. This is since caffeine temporarily conceals exhaustion by raising heart rate and adrenaline levels. It’s a stimulant that throws a thin veil over sleepiness, muffling our body’s desperate call to take a nap. But at the end of the day, caffeine can’t make us less tired, it can only make us feel less tired. “Caffeine” isn’t synonymous with “sleep” — and the belief that, somehow, a can of Celsius will make up for 5 hours of lost sleep is extraordinarily unhealthy.

When 2 a.m. bedtimes are justified with the promise of an extra cup of coffee, we sink into unhealthy habits of sleep. Oftentimes, caffeinated beverages become the light at the end of our sleep deprived tunnel. But students cannot use caffeine to shield themselves from the consequences of sleep loss. Nothing can replace the power of restorative sleep. However, when we believe caffeine has the ability to magically lift us up, sleep sinks further and further down our priority list.

Without us noticing, our dependency on caffeine can cross into dangerous territory. As empty cans of energy drinks in the trash accumulate, so too do the negative repercussions. In small doses, caffeine is not harmful. But in larger quantities, especially for teenagers, caffeine’s negative effects become much more apparent. For adults, the FDA sets a daily limit of 400 mg of caffeine. However for teens, this maximum amount drops to 100 mg (for reference, a can of Celsius energy has 200 mg of caffeine). As Columbia University reports, this is because caffeine interferes with the regular development of the body and mind. The American Academy of Pediatrics further cautions that no adolescent, up to age 17, should have stimulant-containing energy drinks. This poses a serious problem because of the widespread availability of caffeine. Especially in school, coffees are sold in the cafeteria and energy drinks are sold in the vending machines. When paired with excessive quantities of caffeine intake, a distressing picture is painted.

The normalization of extreme caffeine consumption comes at a steep price. Caffeine increases our bodies' reliance on artificial stimulants, entrapping students in a cycle of caffeine dependency. It’s crucial that we are mindful of our caffeine intake to prevent it from exceeding healthy limits. The truth is, no amount of coffee can silence our bodies’ need for sleep. But as we stumble through life, deafened by the noise of caffeine, we might never notice the blaring sound of self destruction.