Nearly 1 in 5 American Adults Takes Sleep Meds

According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 20% of American adults use a drug to help them sleep either occasionally or regularly. Sleep medications, which are sold both over-the-counter and by prescription, are a common treatment for sleep problems.

The report found that among adults ages 18 and older, 8.4% used medication to help them fall or stay asleep on most nights or every night and another 10% said they used medication on some nights. Women were more likely than men to take medication for sleep, and the percentage doing it generally increased with increasing age.

The report also found that white adults were more likely to use sleep medications and Asian adults were least likely to do so. An expert in the field, Lauren Broch, a clinical sleep psychologist, believes that sleep medications are overused and poorly used, and that they can have side effects such as drowsiness during the day and dependence on the medication. She suggests practicing good sleep hygiene and seeing a professional at a sleep center to get help, especially if sleep problems are severe.

References:

Hansen, C. (2023, January 25). Nearly 1 in 5 American Adults Takes Sleep Meds. USNews.com. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-25/nearly-1-in-5-american-adults-takes-sleep-meds