Students varied widely on how much caffeine they use. Thirty-four percent said they use caffeine products two or three times during the day. Thirty percent said they use it less than once a day or not at all, and 23 percent said they use caffeine once a day. Many students surveyed said they are concerned that too much caffeine may be a health risk. Forty-seven percent of the students interviewed said they believe heavy caffeine use, four or more times a day, could cause health problems.
Some students have first-hand experience of the risks of caffeine abuse.
I am living proof that caffeine withdrawal gives headaches. I thought I had an ulcer with all the pop I was drinking. Mary Engstrom, director of health education for the Student Health Center, said she doesn't think the statistics indicate a problem. I don't think there's any problem with drinking a cup of coffee or a can of pop two, maybe even three times a day. I would not classify someone who uses caffeine two or three times a day as dependent, necessarily.