Is a Caffeine Addict, a Drug Addict?

[SuperBrunetteCutie4Ever]

I'm curious because caffeine is considered a drug so, would it be safe to assume that someone addicted to Caffeine is a drug addict or not?

[bellabel19]

Lmao you just called everyone who drinks coffee regularly druggies xD

I see your point, but uhhhh.... not really. We may be addicted to caffeine but we're not necessarily 'drug addicts'

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

It depends what you consider a "drug" to be as there are different definitions. Pharmacologically, every substance you administer or gets administered by someone is a drug. Socially, certain compounds are considered drugs. Legally, caffeine is not found in any of the 8 Schedules of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. Hence, it wouldn't legally be a drug causing addiction. From a psychiatric view using the DSM-IV-TR, caffeine results in neither substance dependence nor substance abuse (labels often considered as "addiction"). Instead, it is listed as a form of intoxication and such intoxication is associated with anxiety and sleep disorders. In other words, from a psychiatric view caffeine is not an addictive substance making someone a drug addict to caffeine.

Overall, it depends on how you're defining the term "drug".

Also, there's the issue over what properties of a drug you consider to make it addicting. That is, do you require tolerance, dependency and/or withdrawal in addictions? It seems like a silly question but when you look at drugs such as MDMA, you notice there is tolerance WITHOUT withdrawal symptoms (any symptoms are deemed negligible) by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3,4-met...ethamphetamine On a side-note, its legal status in Canada is a bit weird because technically, its perfectly legal but its metabolites are generally illegal.

For caffeine, it has tolerance and withdrawal symptoms but lacks dependency. That is, there's no actual cravings for caffeine. It's important to have a solid definition of addiction because it would apply to all other compounds or drugs, so you cant flip-flop the definition per compound or drug.

[CitizenErased]

I don;t think so. I struggle with caffeine 'addiction'. However, its closer to being a 'craving' rather than me suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I very much doubt someone could get admitted to a rehab facility if they were just addicted to caffeine, so because of that, I don't think that regular caffeine users could be called druggies.

[ChaosControl]

I don't think people are likely to get addicted to caffeine in the same way as illegal drugs - hence why it isn't illegal. But technically speaking it's a drug - it effects you physiologically, impacts upon the nervous system, etc.

I wouldn't class a caffeine addict as a drug addict because I'd use the term for more serious addictions. You can be addicted to caffeine, but it's not considered particularly dangerous in the majority of situations.

[Revolution]

If so, I'm a super addict. xD I need...super rehab.
Technically, it could be considered a dependency. However, if it's not hurting your life, I don't see too much of a problem.

[Agent P]

It's socially accepted. It is a drug but no one cares because everyone does it. Everyone drinks soda and coffee and whatever else.

I don't mean everyone, I'm simply generalising. Deal with it. K.

[JKmadu619]

I don't count it as a drug, the straight edge community doesn't, the government doesn't, but scientifically it is.

Socially, no.
Techinically, yes. However it doesn't create a mental dependency nor an abnormal high other than heightened reflexes.

- Justin

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

yes and no it is a drug so yes if you are TRULY addicted, then you could say you are a drug addict, however it is not something that people usually consider as one, this may be because frankly other than being tired and a headache once and a while if the amount is widely varied there are few side effects.