Mental illness is on the rise in young adults and many teens are experiencing extreme sleep insomnia due to the immense stress caused by school, sports, relationships, social media, and many modern, demanding changes in their lives. 

 

This rest deprivation has many teens turning to sleep aids for a more sound sleep. In fact, according to Sonja Haller of USA Today, “28 percent of teens ages 13-18 tried some type of medication to help them sleep…Even more turned to natural or herbal remedies, specifically melatonin, at 36 percent.”  

 

Many adolescents have become reliant on sleep aids, but how safe and effective are these countertop medications? 

 

Sleeping aids are used to cause drowsiness or silence certain parts of the brain that keep you alert, but at what cost? 

 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately  8-10 people who use sleep medicines regularly experience many side effects such as, “muddled thinking, dizziness or balance problems…constipation or diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches, muscle weakness,[and]digestive problems”.

  

Not only do these symptoms impact one’s ability to work and complete simple tasks, but they don't allow them to drive properly. This creates a threat to the lives of both the aid user and other drivers. 

 

Hypnotics are known to become addictive at alarming rates. Many sleep aids can lead to a substance use disorder. To avoid this, users should only take sleep medications for short-term use. 

 

Although many sleep aids can be easily abused, melatonin is considered to be one of the safest sleep medications. According to the Sleep Foundation, melatonin has the least recorded side effects of sleeping aids, but there seems to be new alternatives in the works: “A prescription drug called ramelteon is designed to mimic the effects of melatonin. Like melatonin, it is not considered habit-forming and it does not affect balance.” 

 

These positives don’t excuse the life-threatening side effects of sleeping aids. Sleeping medication should only be used under the supervision of your doctor and in appropriate amounts of consumption.

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Works Cited: 

Haller, Sonja. "Alarming number of teens are using sleep aids, doctors warn of potentially risky results." USA Today, 31 Oct. 2018.

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Pacheco, Danielle and Alex Dimitriu. "How To Use Sleep Medications Safely." Sleep Foundation, 8 Nov. 2023. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-aids/how-to-use-sleep-medications-safely. 

 

"Sleeping Pills." Cleveland Clinic, 22 June 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15308-sleeping-pills.

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