Stimulants, including caffeine, cause irritability among other bad side-effects.
The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is, is because of both $$$ and how socially acceptable it is.
Since you can get your caffeine fix in anyway for really cheap (or not so cheap if you want) and you can drink it at work without any weird looks it doesn't destroy your social life.
Just because it doesn't destroy your social life doesn't mean it's not addictive, but I guess that's just the layman in me.
> The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is
As a sort of meta point, every time I use the phrase "modern addiction specialist" in a thread somebody responds expressing skepticism that such a thing exists or that the definition of addiction I've provided reflects consensus opinion. This is...weird. The American Psychiatric Association leads their "What is Addiction?" page with the following text:
"Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence."
The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is, is because of both $$$ and how socially acceptable it is.
Since you can get your caffeine fix in anyway for really cheap (or not so cheap if you want) and you can drink it at work without any weird looks it doesn't destroy your social life.
Just because it doesn't destroy your social life doesn't mean it's not addictive, but I guess that's just the layman in me.