The Case Against Using Alcohol and Cannabis to Sleep

I also reached out to Lisa Fucito, a professor of psychiatry at Yale and the director of the Tobacco Treatment Service at Smilow Cancer Hospital.“Alcohol, cannabis, and other psychoactive substances do not address the behavioral and cognitive processes that perpetuate insomnia,” she said. “While these substances may provide short-term sedation, their sleep effects tend to diminish with tolerance in as little as a few days and can worsen sleep continuity and quality.” Tolerance can develop within days, and is often followed by rebound sleep disruption in the second half of the night.

As a psychologist, I venture that most people who use substances to sleep are trying to help, not harm, themselves. They are likely not informed about the potential damaging effects of these substances or their ineffectiveness.

The research evidence overwhelmingly supports that cognitive behavioral therapy is a safer, more effective long-term solution for many sleep difficulties, even if it lacks the appeal of a quick fix. This can help address the root cause of behaviors such as spending excessive time in bed awake, maintaining irregular sleep schedules, and conditioned arousal such as worrying about sleep.