The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has conducted a study to determine the effects of insomnia on adolescents. Researchers found that sleep is not the only thing that is lost.

"The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found adolescents with chronic insomnia were much more likely to have problems with drug use, depression, school work, jobs and perceived health."

More than 3,000 teens were interviewed as part of the study, and more than 25 percent were found to have one or more symptoms of insomnia. Read more at UPI.com.

Labels: insomnia, risky_behaviors, sleep

Researchers at the Ohio State University looked into 18.6 million visits to doctors by children ages 6 to 12 years who had problems falling asleep. Three-quarters of them received prescription sleep aids that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children.

"The concern with sleep medications is that we do not know how much to use and how long to use these drugs for children," said Professor Milap Nahata of the College of Pharmacy in Columbus. He and his colleagues collected data recorded between 1993 and 2004 by the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

A 2004 study from the National Sleep Foundation found that about 60% of children under age 11 have trouble sleeping. Dr. Nahata's study appears in the August 1 issue of Sleep.

Learn more about teenage drug abuse and other issues facing today's teens at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: children, prescription_drugs, sleep