It is not unusual to see young people, even those in middle school, drinking coffee.  Increasing numbers of youth are abusing coffee and other products containing the stimulant caffeine, causing health problems.  Research from The Ohio State University shows high caffeine users in seventh through ninth grade had trouble sleeping, which then caused sleepiness during school hours.[i]  Being sleepy and less alert during school can lead to academic problems.

The symptoms of too much caffeine intake can include nausea, vomiting, racing heartbeat, chest pains, hallucinations and panic attacks.  In March, a Connecticut teen died after going into cardiac arrest when he overdosed on a popular brand of caffeine pills.  The amount of caffeine found in his body was the equivalent of 30 cups of coffee.[ii]