Cultural Biases in Research

Abstract

Caffeine intoxication results from the excessive inges-tion of substances containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, coca, soft drinks, and a variety of foods. The content of caffeine in drinks and foods varies considerably; for example, the content of caffeine in energy drinks varies broadly based on brand, which can range from 2.5 to 171 mg per ounce (see Reissig et al. 2008). Depending on body weight, an intake of more than 250-300 mg of caffeine can produce intoxication symptoms, such as restlessness, insomnia, excitement, muscle twitching, rambling speech, ringing in the ears, psychomotor agitation, and, at extremes, convulsion, respiratory failure, and death. Caffeine use has been reported to be increasing, possibly as a result of energy drink marketing targeted toward adolescents (Temple 2009). Excessive intake of caffeine can result in caffeine dependence, and the inability to meet that dependence can result in caffeine withdrawal and link to negative outcomes (see Whalen et al. 2008).