What is it?

Caffeine is the most popular and widely used drug in the world. It is a substance found in the leaves, seeds or fruit of a number of plant species, such as coffee and tea plants.

Caffeine is a stimulant which acts on the central nervous system to speed up the messages to and from the brain. It is made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen (C ₈ H ₁₀ N ₄ O ₂ ). Its chemical name is 3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione (or 1,3,7-trimethylxanthyine for short).

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