The expert-advised daily intake of caffeine for the average adult is between 200 to 300 milligrams. Four hundred and seventy five milligrams of caffeine is the amount in a “Venti” sized coffee at Starbucks. Only 100 milligrams per day are needed to become “reliant” on the substance to become a “functioning member of society.” With coffee companies like Starbucks being a major company on the rise in the United States, teenagers are more reliant than ever before on caffeine.

For teenagers, anything in the 400-600 milligram range is considered unhealthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, side effects from ingesting this amount of caffeine regularly can include agitation, increased heart rate, anxiety, muscular tremors and insomnia. The long term effects can be serious as well.

Caffeine can lead to a decrease in calcium in the body, which can turn into bone loss over time. In addition, the decrease in calcium can lower bone density and possibly lead to the development of osteoporosis via kidshealth.org. Osteoporosis is the bones becoming brittle and weak. That boost of energy should not be worth brittle and fragile bones

The most crucial years for development for the brain are the years from birth to age eight. A 2010 study by Dr. William Warzak of the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that three out of four kids between the ages 5 and 12 take in caffeine daily, often in the form of soda. The average amount of caffeine in Coca Cola is only 29 milligrams, but it creates a dependence on the substance. In the most formative years of a child’s life, caffeine should not be relied upon to function properly.

Instead of buying five Venti coffees a week, spending $25 on caffeinated beverages, and relying upon them to be alert and awake, teenagers can simply attempt to sleep at a reasonable hour and get cell phones away from them before sleeping. In a 2014 study focused on technology use before sleep, only “almost every night” computer use was associated with short weekday sleep duration, and only “almost every night” cellphone use was associated with wake lag.

Caffeine in moderation under the advised daily limit causes no side effects, and can provide a small boost to start the day. Too much caffeine coupled with a poor sleep schedule can lead to lasting negative effects on the body and the mind.