Drinking More Coffee in Sobriety? Here’s Why
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Research from Vanderbilt University indicates that 90% of those in AA drink coffee, compared to 62% of the general public. Caffeine is less addictive than alcohol, it doesn't manipulate our reward system but offers a stimulating effect, which helps us stay alert without activating the reward pathway.
Why do we drink more coffee when we quit drinking
Chronic alcohol consumption increases the brain's acetate levels, which can be used as an energy source instead of glucose. Once you quit drinking, there's a lack of acetate, leading to exhaustion, anxiety, and sleep issues, driving some people back to alcohol.
How does coffee affect the brain
Coffee contains elements produced during roasting that can partially block the mu opioid receptor in the brain, reducing the effectiveness of morphine to alleviate pain. This blocking effect is similar to Naltrexone, a drug used to mitigate the euphoric effect of alcohol. Hence, coffee could help manage alcohol cravings.
Caffeine interacts with the adenosine receptors in our brain. It blocks the A1 receptor, making us feel alert, and also the A2A receptor, which enhances mood by boosting dopamine levels.
The similarities between too much coffee and too much alcohol
However, constant consumption can desensitize the A2A receptor, and caffeine stops stimulating dopamine release. Much like alcohol, we begin to consume caffeine to maintain our baseline mood and alertness.
Just like alcohol, caffeine tolerance builds up quickly. Drinking coffee regularly can cause the brain to increase the number of adenosine receptors, meaning it takes more caffeine to block these receptors and promote alertness. But it's important to note that caffeine addiction, similar to alcohol, isn't about consumption volume but its impact on your life and feelings.
Some suggest avoiding caffeine in recovery due to its potential to exacerbate anxiety and insomnia, common issues in early sobriety. However, transitioning into sobriety can be overwhelming, so focusing on one change at a time might be more effective. Once you are comfortable in sobriety, you can consider managing your caffeine consumption. Ultimately, it's about finding what works best for you.
Learn more in episode 112
Have you noticed that you’re drinking more coffee in sobriety? Recent surveys from the National Coffee Association have found that 70% of Americans drink coffee every week, and 62% drink it daily. Surveys on people in AA found that 90% drink coffee daily. That’s a big difference. Lots of people recently have been mentioning that they drink way more coffee in recovery, so Gill thought she'd try to find out why we do that. In this episode you’ll learn how caffeine affects the brain, how the brain adapts when we drink a lot of coffee regularly, and some really interesting information about caffeine and cravings for alcohol. She will also compare caffeine to alcohol for a few different factors like addictiveness, tolerance, and withdrawal.
What to listen to next:
E11: Why Alcohol Feels Good (Endorphins and Opioid Receptors)
E22: Why You Think Alcohol Helps Your Anxiety
E33: Why Do We Feel So Tired in Early Sobriety?
E64: Anxiety and Alcohol (Part 2)
E75: How Sleep Improves from Actively Drinking to Long Term Sobriety
E108: Why You Feel Anxious, Depressed, and Empty After Drinking Alcohol
Sources
Reich MS, Dietrich MS, Finlayson AJ, Fischer EF, Martin PR. Coffee and cigarette consumption and perceived effects in recovering alcoholics participating in Alcoholics Anonymous in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008;32(10):1799-1806.
Patel, K. The science behind caffeine. Examine. 2021.
de Paulis T, Commers P, Farah A, Zhao J, McDonald MP, Galici R, Martin PR. 4-Caffeoyl-1,5-quinide in roasted coffee inhibits [3H]naloxone binding and reverses anti-nociceptive effects of morphine in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2004;176:146–53.
National Coffee Association. NCA Releases Atlas of American Coffee. 2020
Hilliard, J. Caffeine addiction and abuse. Addiction Center. 2019.
Cite this episode
Tietz, G. Episode 112: Drinking More Coffee in Sobriety? Here’s Why. Sober Powered. 2022.
