Poor sleepers ‘more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol’

Children who sleep badly are more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems when they grow up, according to a new study.

Researchers in America found that children who had trouble sleeping aged between three and five were more likely to continue having bad sleeping patterns between the ages of 11 and 17.

This in turn was linked to higher drug use between the ages of 18 and 21, the study of 386 teenagers found.

Researcher Maria Wong, professor of psychology at Idaho State University, said: "In this study, overtiredness and having trouble sleeping predicted onset of alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use among boys and onset of alcohol use only among girls."

She said overtiredness in early childhood predicted problems inhibiting impulses and behaviour in adolescence, as well as binge drinking, blackouts and drink driving.

The study was published in the June issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.