The mentally ill population at the Gus Harrison Prison Facility in Adrian, Michigan is asking for your assistance in restoring their right to drink coffee and tea, regardless of whether the product is caffeinated or de-caffeinated. These individuals because of their label as “mentally ill” do not have a voice with the administration so they are asking you to be their voice.

The Prison Administration and the Residential Treatment Program Director restrict the use of this common, every-day household product to those with any type of mental illness while allowing prisoners outside of this program to purchase and consume a variety of products containing caffeine without limits.

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (February 2016) stated “While some studies suggest high dosages of caffeinated products can reduce productive sleep cycles, low dosages have no effect and if consumed early enough in the day have no negative effect or produce pronounced sleep disorders.”

Additionally, studies do maintain limited use of caffeine boost brain functions and help to prevent heart irregularities.

UC San Francisco (USCF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care published an article by senior author Gregory Marcus, MD, MAS, a UCSF Health cardiologist and director of clinical research in the UCSF Division of Cardiology stated clinical studies have found consumption of items like chocolate, coffee and tea actually have cardiovascular benefits.

I am sure many of you begin your day with 1-2 cups of coffee. How would you feel if your boss restricted your use of this product? Help be their voice on this small but beneficial issue.