A new study published in the journal Alcoholism focused on sleep behaviors and alcohol use in teenagers. Findings show that many children develop sleep problems during or before puberty, and in an attempt to self-medicate, some begin to use alcohol, which can lead to alcohol abuse.
The study included 236 girls and 195 boys between the ages of 11 and 14. Results indicate that an association exists between early use of alcohol among teens and a tendency to suffer from Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (going to sleep very late) and insomnia (problems falling asleep and staying asleep.) Also, teens who matured earlier tended to stay up later, have greater sleeping problems and were more likely to use alcohol.
Alcohol is known to interfere with the rapid eye movement stage of sleep, which results in un-refreshing sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that alcohol should not be consumed within six hours before going to bed.
According to a study published in the journal Sleep, up to 14 percent of 11 to 17 year olds do not get sufficient sleep. Lack of sleep in children can contribute to lower grades, mental illness, behavioral problems and difficulty creating and maintaining relationships.
In order to improve sleep, children and adults should go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, even during the weekends. They should avoid taking naps; they should refrain from exercising and eating 3 hours before bedtime; and they should keep technology out of the bedroom. That is a real challenge for today’s teens and for the adults who care about them.
