Profile: Sandra Benny

 

University of Oregon junior Sandra Benny, 21, begins her morning with a hearty breakfast and a cup of coffee. She attends her first class around 9:00a.m. and by 1:00pm she is downing her second cup of coffee with her lunch. By 5:00pm Benny determines if she needs her third cup of coffee. The third cup occurs solely if Benny feels drained and tired—she knows this third cup might be a necessary one.

College students around the nation are beginning to grow more in tune with U.S. coffee culture. In the U.S. alone, around 400 million cups of coffee are consumed every day and the American Psychiatric Association now lists caffeine addiction as an actual diagnosis. Recent reports have attempted to pinpoint exactly how caffeine addiction is directly affecting college students.

The demand for success from college students while being incredibly overwhelmed with schoolwork is a suspected influence of excessive coffee drinking. How else might a student pull an infamous all-nighter if he or she is falling asleep? Caffeine can be used as a perceived tool for success. Students at the collegiate level are statistically becoming more interested in coffee and caffeine as a norm—students like Benny.

Benny sits calmly with me during our interview and her demeanor is quite relaxed. She has short dark brown hair and a sweet smile. She doesn’t appear to be someone with an addiction.

As I ask Benny more coffee related questions, she answers honestly and confidently. Occasionally she looks to her phone. “I’m sorry. I’m really bad at multitasking,” she says as she responds to a text message.

Benny is a member of the International Student Association, a security assistant for the university police department, a member of the FHS student advisory board, and she also participates in an internship through the Oregon Youth Authority. Needless to say, Benny is a busy girl, but she seems to have everything under control. Perhaps it’s the coffee that keeps her sane.

“I heard about how caffeine isn’t the best and that I shouldn’t start drinking it at a young age,” Benny said.

Yet, as a college junior, she sits every morning contently consuming the black liquid encased by her favorite Starbucks tumbler.

Benny is not originally from the U.S. In fact, Benny’s home is in Singapore and she identifies as an international student. She hardly drank coffee at all before moving to the U.S. three years ago. Benny recalls that many American students questioned her about her coffee drinking habits once she moved into the dorms for her freshman year. She wasn’t entirely sure what all the fuss was about, but she started drinking a cup a few times a week.

“I was living in the dorms and it was cheap and readily available,” she recalls.

The coffee drinking began with little to no effect, but then, like any addiction, Benny slowly began to crave the effects of caffeine. Midterms came around and she became a night owl studying into the early morning. Coffee became more of a necessity than a tasteful pleasure; she upped her “dosage” to two cups per day.

The effects of caffeine can have some positive outcomes too. The American Journal of Health Education confirms alertness, increased awareness while driving, and cognitive vigilance are among the effects of moderate caffeine consumption.

“The most I’ve ever drank was four cups, but I was over my limit and I started shaking,” Benny said. Apparently there is such a thing as too much coffee. Benny knows she must balance her intake carefully. Even some addicts have their own definition of moderation.

The American Psychiatric Association defines addiction as “a chronic brain disease that causes compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.” This definition helps to explain what happened to Benny when she quit drinking coffee cold turkey one day.

“I was super moody and it was not the best feeling,” she said.

Benny toughed through an afternoon without any coffee and her roommate was quick to sense a difference in her behavior. Benny’s roommate asked her if she had consumed her daily cup of coffee. It’s clear that Benny isn’t the only one to recognize when she hasn’t had her daily stimulant, and since that day, Benny has not gone 24 hours without coffee.

I can see in her face that she isn’t concerned with her addicted reality. Benny explains to me how her body reacts to a lack of caffeine: fatigued as she feels like physically crashing. She is not a fan of what professionals would refer to as “withdrawal symptoms.”

Yet, contrary to the growing trend, not all college students are obsessed with the nature of caffeine. Another international student, Awab Al-Rawe, is sure that he is better off without coffee or anything addictive for that matter.

Regarding coffee consumption, Awab said, “I want to be in full control of my body for energy and concentration.” Awab doesn’t believe in artificially producing energy. He makes clear that he understands the negative effects of coffee addiction.

“Some days pass when I get about zero to five hours of sleep and I can still function well. I tried both tea and coffee before and I liked them but I can do without them alright,” Awab said.

The larger question remains: Is caffeine addiction in college students a real problem? The combination of late night studying and large doses of caffeine suggests so. It’s also true that drinking coffee every day is a lifestyle choice. Benny makes sure to point out this reality. She frequents local coffee shops around Eugene in search of rich quality brews.

“Vero on 14th is so nice and quaint,” gushes Benny. She knows all the best spots in town and I think it’s safe to say that I trust her judgment.