Caffeine Knowledge and the Young Adult

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey testing the knowledge that 747 young adults have regarding the highly domesticated drug—caffeine. The average correct score on the twenty-five item Caffeine Knowledge Test (CKT) was 13. Respondents were aware that caffeine is a widely used addictive drug which is a central nervous system stimulant, causing rapid heartbeat and anxiety. Only a small percentage of the respondents were cognizant of the specific amounts of caffeine contained in colas and over-the-counter medications, or of such recent scientific findings as the association of caffeine with fibrocystic disease of the breast. Several differences by sex were discerned. Respondents demonstrated a keen interest in the CKT. It was concluded that the apparent contradiction between the significant amounts of caffeine ingested by young adults and their knowledge of its biological action as a drug has stimulated much concern with its potentially harmful consequences.