WAKE UP AND SMELL THE DRUG

ON A TYPICAL morning in Anytown USA, men and women flip on the coffeemaker
before hitting the shower. College students stop at the vending machine to
buy a soda on the way to class. Commuters sip steamy tea while they wait in
traffic.

Caffeine is as much a part of millions of Americans' routines as bathing or
getting dressed. Many people recognize the extra ``boost'' it gives them,
and some claim they can't start a good day without it.

But most drowsy drivers and sleepy students probably don't think about the
health benefits, or consequences, caffeine has on their bodies, said Glenn
Pack, director of counseling services for the Baylor University Health
Center.

``It's interesting that most people don't consider caffeine a drug,'' he
said. ``It's so accepted and ubiquitous in our society, that we just don't
think about it.''

Caffeine is one of the most researched drugs in the medical world, yet one
of the most confusing to the public. One study says it's addictive; another
says it's not. One report says it raises metabolism; another says it lowers
hydration. It's the new drug of choice for children, then it's not.

The bottom line about caffeine's health effects is that its users probably
have to take the good with the bad, Pack said.

``It's an enjoyable drug to use, and it does have some benefits in terms of
enhancing performance,'' Pack said, ``but doing too much can cause
problems. It's a relatively benign drug, in that it takes large doses to
have large side effects.''

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized caffeine as a
generally safe drug since 1958. The American Cancer Society's Guidelines on
Diet, Nutrition and Cancer indicate that caffeine poses no risk for cancer,
and other studies show there is little connection between moderate caffeine
intake and heart disease or blood pressure.

A study published by the International Journal of Sports Medicine in August
1999 found that attention, psychomotor skills and long-term memory all
improved during the few hours after volunteers drank caffeinated beverages.

Another benefit of caffeine was discovered last summer when the San
Francisco Headache Clinic reported that it increases the effectiveness of
analgesics such as aspirin and acetaminophen by up to 40 percent.

But before anyone thinks caffeine should be a new food group, experts warn
that too much caffeine can still have adverse effects on just about
everyone.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence reports that in
extreme cases, caffeine can cause seizures, convulsions and psychological
problems such as anxiety and depression. Continued use can disrupt sleep
patterns, hinder academic performance and lead to bone disease from poor
absorption of calcium.

Studies have shown that most adults consume about 200 milligrams of
caffeine each day, which Pack said is a healthy amount. But many people
become ``addicted'' to caffeine if they have five or six cups of coffee a
day, he said. The jury is still out on whether caffeine addicts can
experience actual withdrawal symptoms, but Pack said some definitely feel
anxiety and depression when they wean themselves off caffeine.