Helpful or Harmful? What Students Should Know About Caffeine Intake

December 10, 2025 - Sadie Mitchell (9)

Ever wondered why that cup of coffee in the morning keeps you energized throughout the day? Or why a cold Celsius keeps you awake during late-night study sessions? This is because of the small but powerful stimulant known as caffeine. 

The high demand of work in high school often causes students to feel exhausted. Combining early morning school with late nights of studying takes an extreme toll on the body. One fast solution to this problem that many teenagers and adults resort to is caffeine. Commonly found in chocolate, coffee, energy drinks, types of tea, and certain medications, caffeine is known to have strong effects on human behavior, particularly in kids and teenagers. Oftentimes, without knowing the true scientific effects of drinking caffeine, students will constantly ingest this stimulant, sometimes leading to unexpected and dangerous effects.

Caffeine works by temporarily blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating sleep in the body. Binding to these receptors, caffeine stops the adenosine from sending the necessary signals to the brain, keeping you awake. This creates temporary benefits that students keep coming back to, increased focus and concentration, and an energy boost to get them through the day. 

However, just because the adenosine isn’t binding to the receptors, that doesn’t stop the molecule from being produced. Until the caffeine wears off, adenosine continues to reproduce, building up in the brain. Once the caffeine is completely metabolized, the groups of adenosine will quickly bind to the receptors, causing a “crash”, giving a feeling of immense and sudden fatigue. If this cycle continues to repeat, students will feel more and more tired, increasingly relying on caffeine. Over time, this will lead to constant exhaustion, causing issues with sleep patterns, affecting mental health. 

Beyond caffeine's physical complications, drinking too many energy drinks can lead to increased anxiety and jitters. Caffeine increases the production of a hormone called cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. When cortisol levels increase, it gives the body the impression that something is wrong, stimulating the nervous system. Constant caffeine intake can lead to increased heart rate, muscle tremors, shaky hands, and a “fight or flight” feeling. Teenagers, especially, may have increased effects of this, damaging their mental health.

To regulate these effects, it is important to control caffeine intake throughout the day. The CDC recommends leaving caffeine out of your diet, especially if you are a teen or child, but recognizing that many students rely on it. A dose of 100 milligrams per day is recommended to stay healthy throughout long school days. Taking these risks into consideration, it is important to put your health first and consume only what you need.

In conclusion, although caffeine can be a useful substance to temporarily power through late nights and tiring classes, it is important to understand why caffeine is useful and how to regulate intake. It is important to put physical and mental health first, which is why prioritizing sleep and other healthy habits is much more effective than relying on potentially damaging substances like caffeine. Adopting a healthy routine and sleep schedule as a high school student can help set you up for success in the long run, keeping your mind fresh and ready to take on challenges.