A study conducted by a team of Penn State researchers found that children who had inadequate sleep during childhood and adolescence were more likely to consume alcohol or try marijuana by age 15. The study, published in Annals of Epidemiology, focused on two aspects of sleep health — total duration of sleep and bedtime. The researchers found that if children went to bed later, it could potentially impact their sleep quality and even lead to risky behaviors such as substance use.
The team explored childhood sleep patterns at different developmental stages within a sample of 1,514 children from diverse backgrounds in the United States. Parents reported their child’s bedtime at ages three, five, and nine, as well as their sleep duration at ages five and nine. The researchers found a longitudinal association between childhood bedtime and sleep duration with future alcohol and marijuana use in teens. Teens with later bedtimes were more likely to try alcohol and marijuana, highlighting the importance of sleep during adolescence in relation to substance use risk.
The study also found that poor sleep health can have downstream effects on physical health and decision-making, which could influence substance use choices. The researchers emphasized the importance of creating a sleep-conducive environment for school-age children and establishing age-appropriate bedtimes to promote good sleep habits. Previous research has suggested that shorter sleep duration and later bedtimes may increase impulsivity and impair decision-making, potentially influencing substance use behaviors.
The findings underscore the critical role of sleep in long-term health and wellbeing, particularly during adolescence when children are undergoing rapid changes and brain maturation. The researchers stressed the need for continued research on the connection between sleep and substance use, given the ongoing epidemic of opioid addiction and substance abuse. Disseminating research findings to families, healthcare professionals, and the broader population is crucial in addressing the issue of substance use in adolescents.
The study was supported by funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and a consortium of private foundations. Researchers from Stony Brook University also contributed to the paper, which highlights the importance of addressing sleep health as a potential intervention target to reduce the risk of substance use in adolescents. Further research in this area is needed to better understand the relationship between sleep patterns and substance use behaviors in children and teens.