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College students' using marijuana to sleep relates to frequency, problematic use, and sleep problems
Tess K Drazdowski1,2, Wendy L Kliewer3, Miesha Marzell4
1UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|September 10, 2019
Summary
Marijuana use as a sleep aid is linked to increased problematic use and poorer sleep quality in college students. Evidence-based alternatives are recommended for better sleep hygiene.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Science
- Addiction Research
- Cannabis Studies
Background:
- Increasing rates of insufficient sleep and widespread marijuana popularity necessitate investigation into their relationship.
- College students represent a demographic with high rates of both sleep issues and marijuana use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between using marijuana as a sleep aid and marijuana use outcomes.
- To investigate the relationship between using marijuana for sleep and sleep problems.
- To determine if sleep problems predict marijuana use outcomes in college students.
Main Methods:
- Path analysis was employed to model the relationships between variables.
- Data were collected from a convenience sample of 354 college students who reported marijuana use in the past year.
- The study period was from May to December 2013.
Main Results:
- Using marijuana to aid sleep was significantly associated with increased marijuana use frequency and problematic use.
- Individuals using marijuana for sleep reported worse sleep efficiency.
- Daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness correlated with higher marijuana use and problematic use.
Conclusions:
- College students may hold misconceptions regarding marijuana's efficacy as a sleep aid.
- Findings suggest that marijuana use for sleep may exacerbate, rather than alleviate, sleep problems.
- Evidence-based sleep interventions should be promoted as alternatives to marijuana for sleep improvement.
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