APA: First Graders’ Behavior Problems Linked to Caffeinated Cola
This is one I should tape on the mirror for Susan, who goes into withdrawal without her Diet Coke. Then again, I’m the one who has to have his pot of coffee in the morning before I can have any hope of resuming any semblance of normal function.
Yeah, right. He who live in gas tank should not throw stones….
While this is an interesing story, it’s not exactly breaking new ground. Any parent could likely vouch for the demonstrated effects of sugar and caffeine your average first-grader. Parents who haven’t yet figured this one out probably deserve to have their hopped-up kids turning their world upside down.
It’s a measure, I suppose, of just how prevalent (and ubiquitous) our society’s drug of choice- caffeine- has become. It’s in our drinks, some of our foods, even some of our medications. If you’re one of the unfortunate few that happens to react adversely to caffeine, this is a tough world to live in. We have become so addicted to the drug that, were it to suddenly be declared illegal, you wouldn’t be able to build prisons fast enough and the recidivism rate would be through the roof. Can you imagine an entire nation going through withdrawal? I’m not certain I’d want to.
ATLANTA, May 23-Children who are inattentive, restless, and having difficulty sleeping may be reacting to the caffeinated cola drinks in the school vending machine or the home refrigerator.
First-graders have more behavior problems on the days that they are exposed to caffeinated colas than on the days that they have caffeine-free drinks, according to Chicago investigators who reported today to the American Psychiatric Association meeting here.
The findings may provide a simple answer to some instances of children’s hyperactivity, according to principal investigator Alan R. Hirsch, M.D., director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation and an assistant professor of both neurology and psychiatry at Rush Medical College.
“Exposure to caffeinated cola drinks impaired children’s learning ability by causing restlessness, hyperactivity, and inattention,” he said. “On the days that the children were drinking caffeinated drinks, their Connors scores increased an average of 5.5 points compared to the days that they were only drinking caffeine-free drinks.” Dr. Hirsch is the director of the Smell and Taste. The Connors test is a standard screen for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
If we were talking about alcohol or marijuana, the treatment options would like be numerous. With caffeine, though, we’re an entire nation in the throes of denial. Well, I’m not, but the rest of you certainly are….
Yep, we start ‘em out early. By the time they’re three or four, most kids recognize Coke or Pepsi, and while they may not recognize or be able to articulate the effects of the caffeine (and sugar), they love the taste. When Susan and I first got married, I marvelled at the amount of Coke that Adam, Eric, and their friends went through. A 12-pack didn’t stand a chance. With any luck, it MIGHT have made it through a day before disappearing, but not much longer.
By the time we’re adults, Coke, Pepsi, and/or other caffeinated soft drinks are so much a part of our lives that we seldom even consider how much we consume. As for caffeine-free Diet Coke or similar drinks…why?? It’s like Abbott without Costello, Bush without Rove, or O.J. without Kato.
So why is anyone surprised at the effect caffeinated drinks have on our children? After all, we’re their main suppliers….
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