While ensuring children get a good night’s sleep is crucial for their development, research suggests sleep habits in childhood might also influence future drug use. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and published in the Annals of Epidemiology indicates that teens who experienced later bedtimes and shorter sleep durations during their earlier years were more likely to have experimented with alcohol or marijuana by the age of 15.
The researchers focused on examining sleep habits during various childhood stages to understand how they relate to substance use in adolescence, a connection few previous studies have explored. The study assessed two main aspects of sleep health: the length of sleep overall and the regularity of bedtime. According to the researchers, children, particularly those in school, who stay up late are likely to struggle with achieving quality sleep.
The study analyzed data from 1,514 participants involved in the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, a comprehensive longitudinal study that tracks children from various cities across the Unites States. Parents were asked to report their child’s usual weekday bedtime at ages nine, five, and three, along with how long they slept at ages nine and five.
The researchers discovered a noteworthy pattern while examining the relationship between early bedtimes, sleep duration and subsequent substance use in children. Teens whose bedtime at age nine was later than that of their friends had a 45% higher likelihood of having tried alcohol by the time they were 15. Neither the amount of sleep at age five nor age nine, nor the time spent sleeping demonstrated a comparable association with alcohol consumption.
When it came to cannabis use, sleeping an hour less at age nine was linked to a 19% increased risk of marijuana experimentation, while having a later bedtime at age five was linked to a 26% higher likelihood of taking the drug by age fifteen.
The study also gathered self-reported data from fifteen-year-olds regarding their substance use, bedtime and sleep duration. The findings showed that teens that went to bed later had a 39% higher likelihood of consuming alcohol and a 34% greater chance of using cannabis. Furthermore, a 28% higher likelihood of alcohol usage was linked to sleeping one hour less each night, although this correlation did not hold for cannabis use.
These findings highlight the significance of sound sleeping habits for long-term well-being, particularly in the school-age years. The researchers emphasize that creating regular, appropriate bedtimes and fostering sleep-friendly surroundings are essential tactics for fostering healthy sleeping habits.
The age-verification processes that licensed companies such as Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) are required to implement at their retail outlets can help in keeping marijuana out of the hands of minors and shield them from any possible harms growing brains could suffer from early exposure to the substance.
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