Caffeine Awareness Month

Running head: CAFFEINE AWARENESS MONTH

Rough Draft: Caffeine Awareness Month

Michelle Turner
Arizona State University
PPE 310: Health Literacy
Professor Vance Miller
November 19, 2015

Caffeine Awareness Month

Introduction
In 2009, over 85 percent of high school students reported consuming caffeine on a daily
basis, and over 70 percent of those students reported ingesting over 100 mg of caffeine each day
(Teens Fueled by Caffeine 2009). Most reported receiving their daily dose of caffeine through
sugary sodas and other soft drinks, but moving forward, these numbers have only been amplified
over the years with the increasing popularity of other beverages even higher in caffeine, such as
such coffee and energy drinks. While its true that caffeine can have some short-term benefits on
physical and cognitive performance, such as increased alertness and memory skills, there is also
a long trailing list of short-term and long-term drawbacks to frequent (and excessive) caffeine
consumption. Students need to be made aware of the addictive nature of caffeine and strategies
they can take to reduce their caffeine dependence. Seeing as March is Caffeine Awareness
Month, students can benefit greatly from a school-wide, month-long challenge to cut down on
their caffeine intake and make healthier choices about how they fuel their bodies.

Review of Literature
Cappellietti, Daria, Sani and Aromatario (2015) conducted a study on whether or not
caffeine usage was detrimental to overall health. Coffee, as well as caffeine related substances,
creates an effect on the cardiovascular system that enhances locomotor activity and produces
anxiety-like effects (Cappellietti, Daria, Sani & Aromatario, 2015). Literature review performed
in the study indicated that caffeine abuse and dependence are becoming more and more common,
as are caffeine-related deaths (Cappellietti, Daria, Sani & Aromatario, 2015). A further analysis
of studies related to caffeine concluded that caffeine addiction not only fit the DSM-5 but is also
common among young adults due to its cognitive boosting properties and energy enhancement

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(Cappellietti, Daria, Sani & Aromatario, 2015). While it is unlikely that daily caffeine
consumption will result in a lethal dosage, it can be said that the effects on the cardiovascular
system, particularly in relation to pre-existing conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, can
cause negative health effects and may become detrimental (Cappellietti, Daria, Sani &
Aromatario, 2015).
One 2008 study looked at how consuming a performance bar that contained caffeine
before and during a cycling exercise affected physical as well as cognitive performance
(Hohervorst et al., 2008). Hohervorst et al. (2008) performed a literature review that indicated
that caffeine acts as a stimulant with direct effect on physical, cognitive, and psychomotor
functioning. For their method, twenty-four cyclists consumed a performance bar that contained
45g of carbohydrates and 100mg of caffeine or a placebo and asked to complete a cycling
exercise (Hohervorst et al., 2008). The participates were measured by a complex mathematical
procedure before and after the exercise to determine whether or not the performance bar had a
direct effect (Hohervorst et al., 2008). Hohervorst et al. (2008) discovered that the caffeine
contained in a performance bar can improve endurance and cognitive ability during as well as
directly after an exercise.
Lara et al. (2014) studied the effects of caffeine-containing energy in relation to its
effectiveness for female soccer players. A literature review concluded that soccer is one of the
most widely played sports and that players tend to consume energy drinks to enhance
performance on the field and that energy drinks improve aerobic and anaerobic performance
(Lara et al., 2014). For the study, eighteen female soccer players were either given an energy
drink containing caffeine or a placebo then asked to perform sprint exercises and a simulated
soccer match after a period of sixty minutes (Lara et al., 2014). After a review of the data and a

Caffeine Awareness Month

mathematical formula applied, it was determined that the energy drink did not elicit negative side
effects and might enhance performance in female soccer players (Lara et al., 2014).
A study in 2013 sought to fill the gaps in one hundred years of psychopharmacological
research to determine the positive effects of caffeine consumption (Rogers, Heatherly, Mullings
& Smith, 2013). The primary objective was to gauge the effects of abstaining from caffeine
overnight in relation to routine caffeine use and the study predicted that ultimately, caffeine
improves motor functioning (Rogers, Heatherly, Mullings & Smith, 2013). In addition, the
relationship between caffeine usage and sleepiness, anxiety and alertness were also gauged
(Rogers, Heatherly, Mullings & Smith, 2013). For the method, regular caffeine users completed
tasks after consuming caffeine or placebo and measured at different intervals (Rogers, Heatherly,
Mullings & Smith, 2013). The results indicated that caffeine improves motor functioning and
increased usage prevents the user from side-effects of jitteriness and that tolerance built up
toward caffeines effects on sleepiness will not enhance performance (Rogers, Heatherly,
Mullings & Smith, 2013).
Another study, in 2014, focused on the effects of caffeine on cognitive performance and
physical performance after a full thirty-six hours of sleep deprivation (Souissi, Chtourou,
Abedelmalek, Ghozlane & Sahnoun 2014). This study in particular was chosen because there is a
multitude of reasons that an individual could go a long period without sleep during athletic
events due to stress related to performance or early morning practice schedules (Souissi et al.,
2014). For the method, thirteen males enrolled in the physical education program volunteered
and completed four test sessions after caffeine or a placebo and either a full night of sleep or
thirty-six hours of sleep deprivation (Souissi et al., 2014). The study determined that caffeine can
offset adverse side effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance and physical

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performance but noted that further testing should be completed to determine if these effects are
long or short-term (Souissi et al., 2014).

Synthesis of Information
Caffeine, in reasonable doses, is known to improve endurance in exercise, as well as
cognitive abilities, motor function, aerobic and anaerobic performance. Caffeine can also
temporarily offset adverse effects of sleep-deprivation and other fatigue, but the effects are shortterm. In smaller doses, and on a less-frequent basis, caffeine is perfectly safe to consume, but it
becomes easily abused, and is simple of people to become dependent on. Caffeine has been
proven to be a DSM-5 addictive substance that produces anxiety-like effects in its consumers,
and it is continually abused by large numbers of both teenagers and adults alike. Over an
extended period of time, excessive caffeine consumption can lead to a number of negative health
effects, and in rare cases can reach levels of lethal dosage.
While research has shown that consuming controlled amounts of caffeinated beverages or
energy bars can have positive effects on athletes and can increase energy before physical activity,
caffeine has become so common place that all types of people, athletes and otherwise alike, have
become so dependent, so addicted to the substance that they actually require caffeine in high
doses just to get out of bed in the morning. As caffeine-users continue to consume caffeine, they
build up a tolerance, lessening caffeines effects and thus requiring the individual to consumer
higher amounts to see the results they want. Suddenly people arent just drinking their coffee to
help them wake up, but to get rid of their withdrawal headaches.
Many people are electing to make the switch and cut coffee (and much caffeine
altogether) out of their lives. There are a number of healthy alternatives to hyper-caffeinated

Caffeine Awareness Month

foods and beverages such as coffee and energy drinks, such as wheatgrass juice, ginseng extract
and supplements containing ginkgo biloba a Chinese herb which increases blood flow and
improves focus (Fitday, 2012). Herbal teas such as licorice and rooibos are caffeine-free and still
serve as an effective pick-me-up known to increase energy (Hyman, 2012). Even simple regular
exercise, adequate water hydration and increasing the amount of B vitamins youre eating
through lean meats and low-fat dairy products can have a big impact on staying healthy and
energized (Ipatenco, 2015). Even for those not quite ready to kick the habit completely, just
limiting the amount of caffeine you consume each day can improve sleep habits, reduce morning
grogginess, improve urinary health and help keep you hydrated.

Practical Implications
In order to educate students and staff, it is proposed that Camelback High School observe
the month of March as Caffeine Awareness Month. Caffeine Awareness Month is a program
widely used by businesses and other organizations to inspire employees and other community
members to make informed decisions on the ways they choose to energize their bodies
(Caffeine Awareness). This program will be implemented school-wide in a multitude of ways.

Marketing
In order to generate awareness and interest, posters will be put up in halls, bulletin
boards, and other high-traffic areas both before the start of March to announce the event, and
additional posters offering specific healthy alternatives to caffeine will go up part way through
the month to encourage participants to continue on through the challenge. Students will also be
sent home with flyers advertising the challenge in their homerooms. During daily

Caffeine Awareness Month

announcements, reminders and tips for success during the challenge will be read off. Copies of
these visual marketing tactics can be viewed in the appendix.

Student Engagement
To entice students to participate, they will be asked to fill out a log each time they
substitute their daily caffeine (such as a coffee or rockstar in the morning) and turn them in to
their homeroom to be compiled and compared with other classes. Homeroom totals will be
broadcast at the end of each week to foster a healthy competition. The winning homeroom will
receive a healthy catered lunch, which the caffeine awareness committee will arrange by asking
businesses to donate food items for.

Administration
The Caffeine Awareness Committee will do its best to convince teacher and
administrators that they, too, should participate in the challenge. If students notice that their
teachers are taking on the challenge as well, they will be more inclined to partake, as well.
Teachers might even challenge their students to beat them on a more traditional context. Students
look to their teachers as models and mentors, so its very important to get teachers and
administrators active and participating.

Education
To kick off the month, there will be an afterschool information session where students,
parents, and staff can learn about the effects of caffeine on a body. At this session, put on by
Caffeine Awareness Committee, attendees will be informed of all the months activities, as well

Caffeine Awareness Month

as the prizes for winning homerooms and strategies and substitutes participants can take
advantage of. There will also be a tasting of caffeine-free beverages and snacks.

Community Involvement
To make the challenge a success, the cooperation of as many community members as
possible will be necessary. Not only students, but teachers, other faculty, alumni and parents will
be encouraged to partake. The committee will reach out to local stores and businesses for their
support, and ask to place flyers in shop windows to get as many community members as
possible.

Continued Success
To ensure Caffeine Awareness Month sees continued success, the committee will strive to
make the event an annual occasion, to be held every March. After the event is over, the winning
class will be recognized at the next pep assembly, and participating students will be asked to
volunteer to speak on their experiences, strategies that worked and struggles or frustrations they
had.
Conclusion

Caffeine Awareness Month

Caffeine is a widely-consumed substance among both adults and teenagers, and while
it can have temporary positive effects on cognitive and physical performance, in the long term
excessive caffeine consumption can lead to other significant health problems. The main danger
when it comes to caffeine, however, is its highly addictive nature. Since an alarming number of
teenagers in high school already show signs of caffeine dependence and addiction, the 30-daycaffeine-challenge (as put on by Caffeine Awareness Month) seeks to help students explore
healthier alternatives and make wiser, more informed decisions about what they choose to eat
and drink in terms of energizing their bodies.References
Caffeine Awareness. Retrieved November 17, 2015, from http://www.caffeineawareness.org/
Cappelletti, S., Daria, P., Sani, G., & Aromatario, M. (2015). Caffeine: Cognitive and Physical
Performance Enhancer or Psychoactive Drug? Current Neuropharmacology, 13(1), 71
88.
Fitday. (2012). 5 Caffeine Substitution Ideas. Retrieved from http://www.fitday.com/fitnessarticles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-caffeine-substitution-ideas.html
Hogervorst, E., Bandelow, S., Schmitt, J., Jentjens, R., Oliveira, M., Allgrove, J., . . . Gleeson,
M. (2008). Caffeine Improves Physical and Cognitive Performance during Exhaustive
Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1841-1851.
Hyman, M. (2012, July 1). 10 Reasons to Quit Your Coffee! Huffington Post.
Ipatenco, S. (2015, June 21). Natural Alternatives to Caffeine. Livestrong.
Lara, B., Gonzalez-Milln, C., Salinero, J., Abian-Vicen, J., Areces, F., Barbero-Alvarez, J., . . .
Coso, J. (2014). Caffeine-containing energy drink improves physical performance in
female soccer players. Amino Acids, 46(5), 1385-1392.

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Rogers, P., Heatherley, S., Mullings, E., & Smith, J. (2013). Faster but not smarter: Effects of
caffeine and caffeine withdrawal on alertness and performance. Psychopharmacology,
226(2), 229-240.
Souissi, M., Chtourou, H., Abedelmalek, S., Ghozlane, I., & Sahnoun, Z. (2014). The effects of
caffeine ingestion on the reaction time and short-term maximal performance after 36h of
sleep deprivation. Physiology & Behavior, 131, 1-6.
TeensFueledbyCaffeineUseTooMuchTechnologyandDon'tGetEnoughSleepDrexel
ProfessorFinds.(2009,July1).

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Appendix

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