Caffeine abuse

Over 250 cases of medical complications associated with use of caffeine supplements were reported to a Chicago poison control center over a three-year period, calling attention to what may be a growing problem among young people, according to a study presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians annual conference in New Orleans Oct. 23. Caffeine alone was abused in 68% of the cases and abused in conjunction with other pharmaceuticals in 29% of the cases, with 12% of cases requiring hospitalization including intensive care unit admissions, state Danielle McCarthy, et al., Northwestern University. The average age of the caffeine supplement abusers was 21. "Part of the problem is that people do not think of caffeine as a drug, but rather as a food product," McCarthy said. She stressed more research is needed on long-term effects of caffeine abuse and explained no data suggests doses associated with coffee or tea drinking presents health problems...