Okay, so it is not on the same scale as alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, or heroine. But coffee is a drug and it is abused – in fact, its abuse is probably more common than that of the other substances. It is the most consumed beverage on the planet after water. So, given that it is a drug, it makes sense that overuse would occur. While the short term negative effects are nowhere near as adverse compared to other addictive substances, there are some harmful long term effects that can occur due to prolonged overuse.

Coffee is addictive. This is frequently stated, but few drinkers ever stop to think about what that actually means. Since most coffee drinkers consume one or two cups a day, it is probably not that big of a deal. However, for drinkers of more than two cups a day, a very real coffee addiction represents a very real risk. Like most drugs, coffee presents tremendous effects when first used. The drinker will typically receive a large scale stimulant kick and feel the corresponding effects. However, over time, the drinker builds a tolerance to the drug and will eventually reach the point where they need to consumer multiple cups per day just to feel “normal.” It is not unusual for addicts to be cranky, irritable, or even flat out angry prior to getting their morning fix. It goes much further than just not being a morning person.

For addicts, not getting their fix can lead to a number of short term side effects. Besides the aforementioned irritability, insomnia, cramps, fatigue, anxiety, inability to focus, heartburn, and even constipation can occur when coffee is not supplied. Like addicts of any drug, they get into a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation where they face some negative effects regardless of whether or not they choose (if it is even a choice at that point) to drink coffee in a given morning.

So, why not just continue drinking it? Nobody wants to be a cranky, distracted, anxious, sleep deprived, stopped son of a gun in the morning. If getting that fix puts a stop to these symptoms (most of the time), why cut back? The answer to this question is because the long term health effects of prolonged coffee abuse are actually much more dangerous. Long term abuse can lead to a number of issues in the gastrointestinal system as well as with the heart. Coffee is a stimulant, so overuse can speed up an individual’s heart rate and increase the risk for heart attack later in the life. It can also lead to frequent heartburn, which – if untreated – can increase the risk for the especially nasty esophageal cancer. With regards to the GI system, frequent constipation intermixed with bouts of diarrhea are common and the long term results of these put the user at risk for certain types of rectal and colon cancers.

Like any drug, it is important not to take coffee abuse lightly. If one thinks that they may be at risk, it is key to look at various treatment options as opposed to thinking that it is no big deal that can be easily handled at their own convenience.

The overall theme here is that moderation is the key. After all, coffee is a hell of a drug.

Author Bio: By Felix Chesterfield III
To learn more about substance abuse and addiction, please visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For more information on coffee products, including a Coffee Vendor list – please contact the author.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: Drug abuse, coffee, addiction