Sleep disorders are the norm rather than the exception when it comes to individuals with alcoholism and drug abuse problems. The medical term for it is “substance-induced sleep disorder”. This can be caused by using alcohol or illegal or prescription drugs, or it can happen as a withdrawal symptom from the substances.

Studies have shown that addiction to alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine create sleep problems, and most other drugs do as well. Frequent use of marijuana can create insomnia. Cocaine affects dopamine, which can change sleep habits. Alcohol interferes with neurotransmitters in the brain that create regular sleep patterns, and it can also cause sleep apnea.

Most people know that alcohol interferes with sleep cycles because it’s sometimes used to help fall asleep. However, while it may make an individual doze off easily, even a small amount will disrupt sleep in the future. According to research, as many as 28 percent of people suffering from insomnia use alcohol as a sedative. People with chronic insomnia are more likely to have an alcohol addiction.

The relationship of sleep disorders to drug and alcohol addiction is a significant problem because it can actually hurt the chances of recovery. Some alcoholics experience hallucinations during detox because they have not slept properly in such a long time, and the body is readjusting. It’s also associated with delirium tremors, another part of alcohol detox for some people that involves hallucinations, trembling, fever, and rapid pulse. These things can cause an addict to abandon addiction treatment and relapse before detox is even over.

Sleep disorders are also detrimental to addiction treatment because being well-rested is important to get the most out of a program or rehab facility. Treatment centers should become more aware of this issue and work on ways to assist people with these problems in addiction recovery.

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