Drug/Alcohol Abuse Linked With Childhood Sleeping Problems

A recent study has discovered that children who suffer from sleeping disorders now, may be at a higher risk for drug and alcohol problems as they become young adults. According to Maria M. Wong, associate professor in the department of psychology at, Idaho State University, and printed by MedicalNewsToday.com, "The prevalence of problem sleepiness among adolescents and young adults, ages 12 to 25 years, is not only high but also increasing. Some serious consequences include increased risk of unintentional injuries or death, such as car accidents, low academic performance, negative moods, and increased use of alcohol and drugs." Researchers found that children ages three to five who had trouble sleeping were more likely to continue experiencing this problem during adolescence between the ages of 11 and 17, which resulted in the presence of drug-related problems in young adulthood between the ages of 18 and 21. Wong's study does not directly explain why this association exists; however, it only suggests a marker of drug and alcohol problems that may be noticed very early in a child's life. MedicalNewsToday.com listed Wong's steps in targeting this problem, "First, it is important to increase public awareness of the significance of sleep problems in children, and their potential effect on self-control and later substance use and abuse. Second, substance abuse prevention and intervention programs need to consider the relationships among sleep problems, self-control, and the increased risk for substance abuse. Third, health care providers may need to become more aware of the potential serious consequences of childhood sleep problems, and provide treatment when sleep disturbances are clinically indicated." The results from this study will be published in the June 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. It is currently available for early viewing.