If commercials for the popular sleep medication Lunesta, depicting the caress of a sleep-inducing butterfly, aren’t enough to lull you into a drowsy trance, perhaps you’re one of many 18- to 24-year-olds in the country falling asleep with the help of medication.
In a study released last week, Thomson Reuters Healthcare reported that between 1998 and 2006 the use of prescription sleep aids, most commonly Ambien CR and Lunesta, has nearly tripled among adults aged 18 to 24.
Although the demographic reporting the greatest sleep aid use is among those ages 35 to 44, the most dramatic spike in use occurred among the study’s youngest segment.
University junior Caitlin Jordan said students’ packed schedules likely contribute to their sleep problems.
Natural Sleep Remedies
– | Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends |
– | Exercise during the day |
– | Take melatonin, a natural sleep supplement found in health stores |
– | Drink a warm glass of milk before bed |
– | Drink herbal teas designed for sleep |
“Students are probably way too busy,” she said. “Not getting enough sleep is a big problem with the stress to do well and to get everything done.”
The study points to insomnia, which is usually associated with older adults, as the leading cause of sleep aid use. Although the study reports that the duration of use in all age groups has increased in recent years, University Health Center pharmacist Gregg Wendland said students here are usually prescribed sleep aids for short-term use.
“In the college health setting, it’s often stress-induced insomnia,” he said, adding that college students’ typical challenges such as finals and heavy course loads often lead to poor sleep.
Ben Douglas, University Health Center medical director, said that in his nearly nine years at the University, sleep has always been a problem for students, but in today’s suffering economy students are feeling more stress associated with post-graduation plans.
“Society is more stressful than it was 10 to 20 years ago,” he said. “We see a lot of young adults with stress related to school, relationships and finances.”
The study states that a mental health diagnosis is the principal reason for prescribing the medication in nearly 25 percent of sleep aid prescriptions. However, less than 10 percent of new users have seen a mental health care provider, which indicates that most prescriptions are written by non-mental health care providers.
Wendland suggests that the prominent visibility of sleep aids in television commercials and print ads might correlate to the increase of use in recent years.
“The prevalence of advertising for these drugs and public consciousness (of them) is that much greater, so people might be more likely to go and solicit their doctors about that,” Wendland said. “Public awareness is a strong driving force.”
With supply responding to a growing demand, Wendland said, the desire for uninterrupted, restorative sleep is now more possible than ever.
“A couple of popular sleep aids have come out generically, so price is less of a barrier now,” he said.
Douglas said the health center helps students determine whether their sleep problems are due to insomnia or if anxiety and depression contribute to their poor sleep. If students’ sleeplessness is a symptom of a psychiatric condition, they will likely be prescribed an antidepressant medication.
Whether greater stress, tempting advertisements or some combination has persuaded students to seek sleep aids, Wendland said sleeping pills are not taken without risk.
“Most have slight addictive potential, if not used properly,” he said. “Ambien is the most common (we prescribe), and anecdotal cases of sleep-walking and sleep-eating have been reported, so we warn all patients of that.”
Wendland and Douglas both warn against the combination of sleep medications and alcohol, which Douglas said can be fatal.
Alternatives to sleep medications include a number of natural remedies. Jordan said that among her friends who use sleep aids, she notices exercise is often missing from their daily routine.
Douglas encourages any student with sleep problems to seek advice at the health center.
“Sleep disturbance is a serious problem,” Douglas said. “It can have an impact on school performance and overall health.”
[email protected]