English Composition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

English Composition - Essay Example Caffeine and nicotine stimulate the body and eases drowsiness and tension, but these are addictive drugs that harm the body. Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a stimulant in humans and the coffee bean is the primary source of caffeine (Caffeine, 2007). Apart from coffee, it is also present in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolates. The Coffee Research Institute states that there were 108,000,000 coffee consumers in the United States in 1999; and in 2000 the National Coffee Association’s research indicates that 54% of the adult population in the US drinks coffee daily with an average of 3 cups (Coffee Research Institute, 2006). Apart from caffeine, nicotine is also an addictive drug that can be bought even in convenience stores. It also stimulates the body and causes a sort of relaxation (Nicotine, 2007). Tobacco is the primary source of nicotine. In the United States, studies have concluded that the number of smokers had decreased but the curiosity of the young people is still unquenched. In 2005, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) discovered that an estimated 71.5 million Americans aged 12 or older are current users of tobacco product ((Office of Applied Studies, 2005). NSDUH further notes that among youths aged 12 to 17, 3.3 million used tobacco products in the past month, and 2.7 million of whom used cigarettes. Most of the young people smoke out of curiosity, while some start drinking coffee and caffeine products to counter drowsiness especially when they are studying or rushing on a project. While caffeine and nicotine cause some sort of stimulation to the body, continued intake of these substance is addictive and can harm the well-being. The effect of caffeine to the human brain is likened to that of amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin; although caffeine is milder (Brain, 2007). Caffeine dependence can lead to unpleasant physical and mental conditions including nervousness, irritability, anxiety,