<h3>Introduction</h3>
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Substance abuse is a broad term that refers to the use of any number of substances for non-medical purposes, including to experiment and alter one's mood, or to ease stress or boredom. Substance abuse affects sleep patterns and causes disturbed sleeping in individuals who indulge themselves in this harmful habit.
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Abuse of drugs and alcohol is both associated with the inability to fall asleep. Substance abuse is harmful to the health and mental well-being of an individual. Substance abuse can affect sleep in several ways:-
&middot; First, it can be anxiety-related, causing a person to feel agitated during their sleep cycle and causing them to wake up often throughout the night
&middot; Second, it can make it difficult to fall asleep due to worrying about where they might hallucinate or what they're dreaming about.
&middot; Third, substance abuse may give rise to disruptive behaviours at night that keep one awake: yelling, arguing, or fighting with others is common among people who abuse substances.
&middot; Finally, substance abuse can lead to a change in the architecture of the brain with severe consequences that include difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep.
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The chemical changes associated with substance abuse can result in anxiety and emotional instability, which further undermines the ability for sleep to occur normally. If a person continues to use substances, their body adjusts and becomes dependent on the chemical changes that produced the substance abuse. In time this may result in social isolation and depression-like symptoms that interfere with normal sleep patterns.

More information on how substance abuse affects sleep:-
- Substance abuse disorder is a serious medical condition that impacts sleep and health. It is common for someone who has been addicted to substances for many years to experience insomnia, daytime fatigue, or even chronic pain.
- It may affect your sleep based on intake and frequency of use. Your sleep might be affectedwhen you consume more substances. Alcohol can cause difficulty falling asleep, even for a short time, and continued alcohol use can cause issues with insomnia.
- It can cause sleep disorders and other health problems. Unfortunately, many people don't talk about substance abuse until they are experiencing serious health issues. If you suspect that you or a loved one has an addiction, seek help as soon as possible to get a grasp on the issueand take steps toward a healthy recovery.
- It affects sleep in several ways. Substance use can lead to sleeplessness, a change in sleeping patterns, nighttime awakenings, and daytime sleepiness. If a person uses drugs and alcohol regularly, he or she may also have insomnia related to substance use.
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Conclusion
Sleep is a complicated phenomenon and it can be affected by many different drugs.Substance abuse and sleep disturbances tend to occur together, both in individuals and families. Alcoholics are more likely to suffer from insomnia than those with no history of alcohol abuse. Furthermore, alcohol use leads to up to 50% of the population having sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome during the night cycle.

Learn how different substances react with our body and affect our mental health & sleep when consumed.

How Does substance abuse affect sleep?