Diet Pop Addiction

While no specific criteria exist to determine an addiction to diet pop, using the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for alcohol and drug addiction might provide insights that prove beneficial. To be officially diagnosed with an addiction to a substance, people need to meet at least three of seven criteria within a year. If you have concerns about your consumption of diet pop, talk to your doctor.

Addiction Criteria

The first criterion used to determine if a person has an addiction is tolerance, which is defined as requiring larger amounts of the substance to get the desired effect once achieved from smaller amounts. The second criterion is withdrawal, which means the person experiences unpleasant side effects when he does not take the substance. Taking the substance in increasingly larger amounts over a period of time is the third criterion, while the fourth is being unsuccessful at quitting despite a persistent desire to do so. The fifth criterion says a person spends a great deal of time obtaining or using the substance. Giving up or reducing participation in important social or occupational activities is the sixth criterion. The seventh and final criterion is using the substance despite knowing that the substance is causing undesirable physical or psychological effects.

Caffeine

Caffeine is the likely cause of someone developing a physiological addiction to diet pop. Taking large quantities of caffeine on a regular basis is known to cause a person to develop a physical tolerance to the caffeine. People who have consumed caffeine on a regular basis might also experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop consumption. Caffeine withdrawal effects include tiredness, irritability and headaches.

Artificial Sweeteners

While caffeine is the likely cause of a physical tolerance to diet pop, it is possible that the artificial sweeteners in the pop might also cause such effects. Scientific evidence of tolerance or withdrawal in regard to artificial sweeteners is lacking, however. If you believe you are physically dependent on caffeine-free diet pop, talk to your doctor about the latest research involving the specific type of artificial sweetener found in the pop you drink.

Considerations

While it is possible that the caffeine or artificial sweeteners in diet pop might cause a physical dependence on the substance, most diet pop addictions probably stem from a complex mix of behavioral factors, notes Dr. Timothy Harlan in an article titled "Can you get hooked on diet soda?" published on the Health.com website. Some people might associate drinking diet pop with a certain routine and behavior, which conditions their brain to crave the beverage at specific times. People wishing to break their addiction to diet pop can use similar methods that smokers use to quit smoking, such as recognizing their triggers, changing their routines or replacing the beverage with a healthier alternative.