by PHILLIP WYATT
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

Students are now looking for that extra jolt to get them through their day—and caffeine on campus is the answer.

Four out of five college students utilize caffeine on a daily basis as a means to remain alert for morning classes or late night studying, according to a Loyola University study.

Students at Appalachian State University do not have to search far to find their fix. Appalachian houses three coffee shops on campus, including Crossroads Coffee House and Whitewater Café in the Plemmons Student Union, The Conrad Coffee Company in the Central Dining Facility and The Wired Scholar in Belk Library & Information Commons.

Kelly A. White, senior history secondary education major and manager at Crossroads, believes caffeinated products are readily available to students who take advantage of their accessibility.

“We definitely have regulars who frequent the coffee shop in the morning before their classes every single day,” White said.
Amanda T. Mordecai, sophomore psychology major, admits to being one of these regulars.

“I probably stop by [Crossroads] two times a day,” Mordecai said.
Students wishing to gauge their caffeine intake may find it a difficult task to accomplish, considering its fluctuating levels in products.

Typical caffeine levels vary in popular beverages such as coffee, soft drinks and energy drinks. In an 8-ounce serving soft drinks contain 20-40 milligrams of caffeine, energy drinks contain 60-100 mg and coffee contains 104-192 mg, according to the American Beverage Association.

What is considered a normal amount of caffeine depends on the individual. Caffeine sensitivity is subject to several factors, such as frequency and amount of regular intake, body weight and physical condition, according to the International Food Information Council.

An abundance of caffeine can prove problematic for students. According to Dr. Robert S. Ellison, a university physician with Student Health Services, caffeine can increase irritability, anxiety and cause problems with sleeping. 

“For some students, maybe they’re new on campus or are having other stresses in their life, and caffeine can be a problem in those situations and may not be something the student is necessarily, personally aware of,” Ellison said.

When talking with students concerning sleep problems, headaches, or becoming overwhelmed with anxiety, Ellison considers caffeine a possible catalyst.

“Certainly we are going to ask a lot of questions to try and find out what is triggering [these problems], and caffeine is one of those common questions we are going to ask,” he said.

Photos by Photographer Tommy Penick

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