The Case Against Using Alcohol and Cannabis to Sleep

Good sleep is crucial to healthy functioning. If we don’t get enough sleep or if it’s of insufficient quality, we often have problems the next day. We may have a harder time concentrating or may feel irritable and sluggish. If sleep problems persist, as they do for up to one in three adults, those individuals are at risk for a range of serious physical and mental health difficulties, including problems with heart and circulatory systems, issues with thinking and memory, as well as respiratory and immune disorders.A substantial number of Americans turn to cannabis and alcohol to help them fall asleep. Indeed, there are estimates that nearly one in 10 Americans regularly use cannabis for sleep, and many adults report using alcohol in this way. Sadly, these rates are higher for young adults.While cannabis and alcohol may seem to assist in sleep, these substances offer a cheap trick. While they can initially make a person feel sleepy, they don’t produce the kind of restorative sleep humans need to function well. In fact, researchers warn that regular use not only weakens healthy sleep but increases the risk of dependence. Philip Gehrman is a psychologist and professor who directs the S...