“Many old people can’t sleep, and many young people are stressed and they can’t sleep either.” 
Author: Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan
This story was originally published by Michigan Bridgenon-profit, non-partisan news organization. For regular Bridge Michigan coverage, sign up for a free Bridge Michigan newsletter here.
Struggling to fall asleep, many young adults are reaching for marijuana or alcohol at bedtime, a University of Michigan study found.
UM’s annual Monitoring the Future Panel study found that 22% adults 19- to 30-year-olds used cannabis, alcohol, or both to sleep.
Of the two, marijuana was more common, with 18 percent using the drug to fall asleep, compared to 7 percent of participants who used alcohol.
Advocates say cannabis can be a low-risk alternative to sleeping pills because the use of sleeping drugs or alcohol “can backfire, disrupting the ability to sleep and the quality of sleep,” said Megan Patrick, the researcher. the teacher at the UM Social Research Institute.
“They appear to have disrupted sleep in the long term. The fact that so many young adults report using cannabis for sleep is concerning.”
Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep is a common condition experienced by many Americans the experienceAccording to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. In general, it is recommended that adults sleep 7-9 hours a night. If not, it can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
Factors such as too much screen time before bed can prevent the brain from releasing melatonin, the “sleep hormone.”
People who work early morning or night shifts have difficulty falling asleep and generally get fewer hours of sleep, according to research.
“Unfortunately, there is a misconception that substance use can help with sleep problems, but can make things worse,” Patrick said. “Good quality sleep is critical to mental health and mood regulation. Young adults told us they are using cannabis to try to sleep, but doing so can make their sleep problems worse. They need to know the potential risks.”
Cannabis as a sleep aid 
While medical experts warn that relying on sleeping substances can increase the risk of addiction or substance abuse, cannabis advocates argue that when used responsibly and in the right doses, the drug can offer real benefits to those who struggle to fall asleep naturally.
In recent years cannabis has become more accepted, mainly for its medicinal benefits. Michigan voters passed a measure in 2008 to legalize the use of medical marijuana, and in 2018 approved recreational use.
A 2023 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that participants who used cannabis was able to reduce or completely stop prescription medications to help them sleep.
“We sell thousands of packs of sleeping gum every week. I didn’t realize how many people were having trouble sleeping,” said Jerry Millen, owner of Greenhouse Dispensary in Walled Lake. “Many old people can’t sleep, and many young people are stressed and they can’t sleep either.”
Research has found that cannabis with low levels of THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid that can produce sedative, sedating or euphoric effects, can help ease sleep and reduce sleep time.
Cannabis with a high concentration of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, can have a calming effect, while a lower dose can have a stimulating effect.
“People are weaning themselves off opioids with cannabis. People are replacing alcohol with cannabis,” Millen said. “If you have an addiction and want to ‘abuse’ something, I recommend using cannabis.”
Practice good sleep hygiene 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least seven hours sleep every night
Good quality sleep can reduce the number of times you get sick, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and improve your heart health and metabolism.
The CDC offers several recommendations for better, more restful sleep:
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day
- Keeping your bedroom calm, quiet and at a cool temperature
- Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed
- Avoiding meals and alcohol before bed
- Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon or evening
This the article appeared for the first time Michigan Bridge and it is republished here a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.