Caffeine Addiction
"When I started drinking coffee I didn't think I'd become
addicted."
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to this Commentary!
By Sophie Simon Ortiz
 My
morning routine used to be centered around a strong cup of Pete's
coffee. Everything else was just details. As long as that smooth,
creamy roasted taste filled my mouth, I was completely satisfied.
I was convinced that my body and mind were not able to function
without caffeine rushing through my bloodstream.
I've been around coffee — good, gourmet coffee — for
my whole life. Even when I was ten I knew exactly how I took it
— strong with lots of cream and no sugar. It wasn't until I
was 13, though, that coffee became a daily thing. People saw me
coming to school every day with a portable mug in my hand and gave
me strange looks implying that I shouldn't be a slave to caffeine
like so many adults.
When I started drinking coffee I didn't think I'd become addicted.
I figured I was just drinking it because I liked the taste and that
I could just quit anytime. Turns out, I was incredibly wrong. A
few times I forgot to drink coffee in the morning. By the afternoon
I had a huge headache, I was drowsy, and my temper was through the
roof. I couldn't stop because knew I would feel horrible.
My parents started to get on me about drinking so much coffee.
Even though both of them drink coffee every day, they worried I
was getting addicted too young. It took about two years of this
dependency to realize for myself that caffeine wasn't good for my
body.
Last summer I promised myself to stop-well, at least to cut down.
I knew I couldn't quit cold turkey. Instead I decided to go down
a notch in strength to black tea. I definitely don't get that same
rush from tea, but it satisfies most of my yearning.
Every day I see teens around me spending their money on a Frappucino
at Starbucks, instead of eating lunch. I don't want to become like
that, but it's so hard not to give in to a nice strong cup of coffee
once in a while.
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