I honestly do not see a difference, in terms of dependency, with my addiction to caffeine and other people who are addicted to harder drugs.
Think about it, if I tell someone that, I cannot function without four shots in the morning and a couple more in the afternoon, if I have a hard day I may take two or three more before bed because it actually helps me sleep, what would their reaction be? If we were talking shots of vodka here the person I was talking to would have me in AA within three seconds of my finishing that sentence. But it’s espresso we are talking about here, no harm. The person I am telling this to may just think “dman, this girl is addicted to coffee, no wonder she’s so upbeat,” then smile.
Sure, drinking vodka in excess far more dangerous than coffee will ever be but my point an addiction is an addiction, no matter what it’s to. And just like in the world of drugs or alcohol there is always that gateway.
This is how addiction works in the worlds of a Starbucks junkie:
First, you start with a gateway drink, something light- like a tall signature hot chocolate, tea, hot or cold, or a mocha frapacinco. You’re good with that for a while, then one day you over hear someone over a tall mocha. You ask the barista what that is and when you learn it’s basically hot chocolate with espresso you think, why not?
Next think you know your tall signature hot chocolate became a tall mocha, which later becomes a grande, which later becomes a quad, grande, non-fat, no whip, mocha. At this point you can take two routes, stick with that drink and make it your regular order, or explore the menu once or twice more until you find a drink that gives you the same buzz.
That’s always how it starts. No one wants to become a caffeine junkie, we all think we can stop any time we want — gotta love denial.
