Students juggling jobs, college and young-adult life often turn to caffeine for a boost. Above, a recent Welcome Day at Santa Rosa Junior College. [Photo courtesy SRJC]
other than food that affects the way your mind and body works,” says Dennis Osborn, regional director of DARE America/ International. “In our elementary school curriculum,
Students are stressed and want more sleep. Yet they have to get all their assignments done and usually work a job as well. Assignments and test questions that share the pros and cons of different caffeinated drinks teach them how to balance competing needs.
core classes are for the fifth grade. The only specific drugs that are typically discussed are alcohol and tobacco,” says Osborn. Police officers can answer questions about cannabis and caffeine if students ask them. California DARE State Coordinator Steve Abercrombie of the Tracy Police Department, who regularly teaches DARE lessons in K-12 classrooms, says he receives questions about caffeine. Students typically ask whether caffeine is a drug, whether it is addictive and how much caffeine is safe to consume. In general health education classes at SRJC, college students learn what beverages contain caffeine, the average amounts of each type of beverage and recommended limits for distinct groups, like 300 mg maximum for pregnant people .
SRJC students who are part of the school’s nutrition club engage in activities that push their understanding of caffeine further, like comparing caffeine with other ways to get energy. Jill Harrison, also a health sciences professor at SRJC, says one of the most significant tools students have is curiosity. “Students bring the results of recent studies with them to class. That helps us integrate it into our lectures. Part of our job in nutrition is to keep up with new research,” says Harrison. College students usually take an interest in caffeine consumption because they recognize they, their peers and many of their family
members regularly use caffeine. “Their interest and willingness to read and share the news keeps us on our toes,” says Harrison. g
“The question that most students have about caffeine is what happens when they consume it with sugar. They’re trying to find the healthiest caffeinated drink option,” says Jill Tarver, a health sciences professor at SRJC. The concerns of college students mirror those of many working adults beyond traditional undergraduates ages 18 through 25.
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60 NorthBaybiz
February 2025
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