Study: Alcohol Use Puts Adolescents at Risk of Insomnia

It’s not news that excessive drinking as a teenager can cause a host of medical problems – both in the short- and long-term. Most recently, however, researchers have linked alcohol consumption during adolescents to daytime sleepiness and insomnia. The findings are consistent with associations found between insomnia and alcohol among older adolescents and adults, say researchers.

For the study, which was published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, researchers examined the associations between alcohol use and four sleep-related issues:

• Initial insomnia
• Sleep irregularity (defined as difference in weekday and weekend bedtimes)
• Daytime sleepiness
• Disturbed sleep

Study participants were asked to complete surveys that questioned the following:

• The amount of time it takes them to fall asleep
• Their bedtimes during the weekday and weekend
• The frequency of sleep disturbances
• Whether they sleep in class and potential difficulties staying awake after school 

Researchers also took into account whether symptoms of mental health problems or levels of parental monitoring accounted for these sleep problems. 

“Parents, educators, and therapists should consider insomnia to be a risk marker for alcohol use, and alcohol use a risk marker for insomnia, among early adolescents," said Rutgers-Camden researcher Naomi Marmorstein, in a statement.

Do You Know the Symptoms of Insomnia?

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), people with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Difficulty staying asleep (waking up during the night and having trouble returning to sleep)
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Unrefreshing sleep (or "non-restorative sleep")
• Fatigue or low energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood disturbance, such as irritability
• Feeling impulsive or aggression
• Difficulty at work or school
• Difficulty in personal relationships, including family, friends and caregivers

The duration of insomnia is important, notes the NSF, and doctors consider insomnia chronic if it

occurs at least three nights per week for three months or longer.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Sleep Disorders and Alcohol Abuse

If you suffer from both symptoms of sleep disorders and alcohol abuse, you may need specialized treatment and a personalized plan for recovery. At Hope Academy, we offer evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment for young adults facing both substance abuse and co-occurring issues like sleep disorders. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

Substance Abuse and Sleep Disorders

If you can’t seem to fall asleep and/or find yourself wide-awake in the middle of night, you’re not alone. Sleep troubles are a common complaint among those with substance use disorders. In fact, those in early recovery have a five times greater risk of insomnia than the general population. And many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have insomnia before entering treatment. 

On average, people who struggle with substance abuse also struggle with getting the recommended 7 to 8 hours of shut-eye per night. Instead, studies show total nightly sleep averages as 5.5 hours. Some people in recovery can continue to have sleep problems for weeks, months, or sometimes years after initiating abstinence, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration  (SAMHSA). 

Sleep loss can have a major impact on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people in recovery — and it can even interfere with treatment. The most common sleep problems linked with alcohol and drug abuse, include: 

• Poor sleep quality
• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome
• Narcolepsy

How to Get Sleep-Smart 

A little sleep hygiene can go a long way in helping your sleep habits. Here are a few smart slumber tips from SAMHSA: 

• Go to bed and get up at the same times each day.
• Exercise regularly.
• If you take naps, keep them short and before 5 pm.
• Don’t eat or drink too much when it's close to bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, cola) and nicotine for several hours before bedtime.
• Wind down before going to bed. Some examples: take a warm bath, do light reading, practice relaxation exercises.
• Don’t lie in bed awake. If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up and do something relaxing.

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Program For Sleep Disorders And Substance AbuseIf you suffer from both symptoms of sleep disorders and substance abuse, you may need specialized treatment and a personalized plan for recovery. At Hope Academy, we offer evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment for young adults facing both substance abuse and co-occurring issues like sleep disorders. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.