By definition, it’s only an addiction if it affects the lives of yourself and/or others negatively. Which CAN be the case with caffeine, but this comic doesn’t show that.
Other examples of neutral to beneficial dependencies include oxygen, exercise, medication, and the winning smile of Hugh Jackman.
In casual conversation (such as on an internet forum) “addiction” can also mean “physiological dependence to something not ordinarily necessary”.
Caffeine creates very strong physiological dependence.
In addition, due to its ubiquity, the actual harms of caffeine go unrecognised: people who are caffeine dependent are more tired and irritable when they haven’t had any than if they were not dependent, and also tends to cause headaches and stomach problems.
By definition, it’s only an addiction if it affects the lives of yourself and/or others negatively. Which CAN be the case with caffeine, but this comic doesn’t show that.
Other examples of neutral to beneficial dependencies include oxygen, exercise, medication, and the winning smile of Hugh Jackman.
In casual conversation (such as on an internet forum) “addiction” can also mean “physiological dependence to something not ordinarily necessary”.
Caffeine creates very strong physiological dependence.
In addition, due to its ubiquity, the actual harms of caffeine go unrecognised: people who are caffeine dependent are more tired and irritable when they haven’t had any than if they were not dependent, and also tends to cause headaches and stomach problems.