Alcohol and drugs are not the two substances college students are abusing. A recent article in Time magazine entitled “The Newest addictions on Campus” focuses on caffeine and video game addiction. While alcohol and illegal drugs are seriously abused on college campuses caffeine and video game addictions seem to be swept under the carpet.
Drinking a cup of coffee seems to be part of everyday routine but over-use of this stimulant can lead to some serious addiction problems. Having a frappacino or an energy drink will help you get through that cramming session or that research paper but, this can lead to dependency.
Sooner of later you’ll be having a cup of coffee to just feel normal instead of alert. According to the Food and Drug Administration a person who drinks about half a cup of coffee daily can develop a physical dependence on caffeine and can experience withdrawal symptoms that include headaches, fatigue, irritability, and depression. And although the number of cases are minimal-compared to other drugs- over-dosing can also occur.
Caffeine has become a mainstream drug and its level availability is tremendous-especially on college campuses. The presence of coffee shops on college campuses has become as normal as a library. And with so many choices- from soft drinks to fraps to energy drinks to plain old regular coffee- caffeine has become the most popular and socially acceptable drug. Its everywhere and everyone is doing it.
Video game addiction is also a growing problem affecting college students. The article states that nearly 80% of college students play video games, so its hard to distinguish between an addict and an occasional player.
Everyone now and then needs a break from the world of academics, but the lines between fun, irresponsibility and addiction are thin ones. The article states that one in ten college gamers are addictive to video games. And video games are a main cause of failed classes and poor study habits.
The popularity of video games among young adults has catapulted in recent years technology has aided that process. There are many ways to play video games, from playing Halo on XBOX on your television to Massive Multi Player Online Role-Playing Games(MMPORG), like World of Warcraft, on the your computer to the various hand-held video game devices. The ways in which a gamer can become an addict are endless.
Video game and caffeine addictions are not widely acceptable as real life threatening addictions but college health officials should start focusing more on these two widely abused campus pastimes.
