HABITUATION / ADDICTION / WITHDRAWAL
What is addiction?
Addiction is commonly defined as the abuse of a psychoactive substance to the point where it interferes with an individual’s health, economic or social functioning. The abuse is associated with a need for increasing amounts to achieve the same effect. The word ‘addiction’ is frequently misused and habit may be a more accurate description.
Is coffee addictive?
No. Enjoying coffee during the day may be described as a regular habit, but in no way should this be confused with being addictive. Coffee drinkers do not need to increase the amount they consume over time, nor do they generally experience problems if they drink less than they are used to for whatever reason, and also coffee drinking does not cause psychosocial effects.
If I stop drinking coffee will I experience withdrawal symptoms?
Some people may experience mild withdrawal like symptoms, such as headache and lethargy, if they suddenly remove coffee/caffeine from their diet. Individuals who gradually reduce their caffeine intake over a couple of days tend not to experience these symptoms.
I know that caffeine can have a beneficial effect on levels of alertness, but do I need to keep increasing the amount I consume over time in order to achieve these benefits?
No. People tend to find a level of consumption that suits them and there is no need to increase the amount consumed to obtain the beneficial effects on alertness.
Is there any evidence to support the claim that coffee drinking is not addictive?
Yes, research was published in 1999 (Nehlig) that showed caffeine did not act on the brain areas responsible for reward, motivation and addiction in the same way as amphetamines and cocaine.
Do any ‘official’ bodies acknowledge that coffee is not addictive?
Yes. The American Psychiatric Association states in its manual that caffeine does not meet those criteria associated with drug abuse. Unlike the pattern of progressive increase in consumption associated with drugs, the level of caffeine consumption easily remains static over long periods of time. Furthermore, individuals reducing their caffeine intake do not exhibit those symptoms of withdrawal that are characteristic of drug dependence.
COFFEE AND DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
Does drinking coffee cause ulcers?
No. Research has shown that coffee drinking does not lead to the formation of either gastric (stomach), or duodenal (upper intestinal) ulcers. Also there is no need for ulcer patients to stop drinking coffee if they suffer no symptoms from it.
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is an uncomfortable feeling that occurs when stomach contents, which are naturally acidic, move back up (or reflux) into the oesophagus. The lining of the oesophagus is sensitive to acid and this results in characteristic feelings of heartburn.
Sometimes when I drink regular or decaffeinated coffee I get heartburn, why is this?
There are many possible causes of heartburn, including stress, or very rich or spicy foods. Many people find that eating certain foods leads to heartburn, whereas other people do not suffer. Sometimes people experience heartburn after drinking coffee, but they may have also eaten something else which causes these symptoms.
If I think that coffee is causing my heartburn should I give up drinking it?
It may be that it is not the coffee that is causing the heartburn but other aspects of your diet. Of course, you could stop drinking coffee and see if this has an effect, in the same way that you could stop eating/drinking other things that may trigger your heartburn.
I have heard that coffee makes the stomach produce too much acid, could this be what is causing heartburn?
There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that drinking coffee results in abnormally high acid secretion. Many beverages, including fizzy drinks and even milk, which are recommended to ulcer patients, make the stomach produce acid. This does not mean they are harmful.