Where Caffeine Comes From and Various Uses

Where Caffeine Comes From and Various Uses Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Print The Various Uses of Caffeine By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 26, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on November 20, 2019 Patrick Foto / Getty Images More in Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Internet Shopping Sex Alcohol Use Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Caffeine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance with stimulant properties. Caffeine use is common, and  it is the worlds most popular psychoactive drug, and it is completely freely available and unregulated in the United States and throughout much of the globe. It is an ingredient in a large variety of everyday foods and drinks  and can be found in many over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is also often used as a cutting agent in illicit drugs, particularly stimulants. Where Caffeine Come From Caffeine occurs naturally in several plants and is most commonly known for its presence in the coffee beanâ€"used to make coffee, the cocoa beanâ€"used to make chocolate, and the tea leafâ€"used to make tea. It also occurs in the kola nutâ€"used to flavor cola drinks, and the guarana berry, a less common additive to beverages, which is also available as a health food supplement. Several other plants contain caffeine. Synthetic caffeine is a surprisingly common food and beverage additive. Use in Everyday Foods and Drinks It is well known that caffeine is present in coffee, a very popular adult beverage in the United States. Less commonly known is the presence of caffeine in a large array of other beverages, such as teaâ€"including green tea, which is commonly thought of as a healthier alternative to black and orange pekoe teas, as well as beverages such as cola and other types of soda, sports drinks, and drinks that are marketed as healthy. Caffeine is also a common food ingredient in chocolate and other foods containing cocoa. It is often thought that people who become addicted to chocolateâ€"chocoholicsâ€"are actually addicted to the caffeine in chocolate. In fact, the true picture of the addictive nature of chocolate is much more complex, as chocolate contains another addictive substance, sugar, and sugar addiction is now well documented. Use in Recreational Drugs There is a fine line between whether caffeine is considered a food or a recreational drug. We think nothing of adults drinking tea and coffee in front of their children, whereas injecting heroin or smoking crack in front of a child would be shockingâ€"and grounds for removal of the child from their parents care. Yet as the concentration of caffeine gets higher, the effects become more pronounced, and now some high-caffeine beverages are marketed as legal recreational drugs. The stimulant effects of caffeine, as well as its legal status and availability, make it a common cutting ingredient in street drugs, such as cocaine and meth. Use in Pharmaceutical Drugs Caffeine is also used as an ingredient in a variety of pharmaceutical drug preparations. Many painkillers contain caffeine  because caffeine increases their effectiveness. It is also added to many medications that cause drowsiness in order to counteract this side effect. Caffeine Use in Sports Prior to 2004, caffeine was included as a prohibited substance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In 2004, caffeine was removed from the prohibited list. WADA acknowledges the presence of caffeine in many foods and beverages, and the risk that it can be abused in sportsâ€"therefore, although the use of caffeine is not prohibited, it is part of WADAs monitoring program. Also Known As: 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine Common Misspellings: caffiene, caffeen, cafeen, cafine, caffine, kaffine