Inadequate Sleep Linked to Alcohol, Drug and Sex Problems in Teens

Inadequate sleep has been tied to risky sexual behaviour, binge drinking and drug abuse in adolescents by a new study.

According to UPI, the study found that teenagers who reported trouble with sleeping at least once every week were more likely to have trouble with alcohol, drugs and sex later in life. The study found a 33 percent higher risk of such behaviour in teens had difficulty sleeping every day.

"National polls indicate that 27 percent of school-aged children and 45 percent of adolescents do not sleep enough. Other studies have shown that about one in 10 adolescents have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep almost every day, or every day, in the previous 12 months," said Idaho State University's Maria Wong who published the study, in a news release.

The study was based on data collected from 6,504 adolescents between in three spells between 1994 and 2002.

"Sleep difficulties at the first wave significantly predicted alcohol-related interpersonal problems, binge drinking, getting drunk on alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, getting into sexual situations one later regretted due to drinking, and using illicit drugs and drug-related problems at the second wave," said Wong.

"Substance-related problems such as binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behavior are more important than others due to their association with reckless driving, automobile accidents, physical injuries and even death, as well as risk for sexually transmitted disease and unplanned pregnancy," she added.

BBC further pointed out from the study that an extra hour of sleep every day offered protection as it decreases chances of binge drinking.