Among adults who misused prescription sleep aids, 55.5% also used marijuana, and two distinct profiles emerged: a majority using marijuana/alcohol/tobacco and a smaller group adding cocaine, hallucinogens, and other prescriptions.
Sleep medicine clinicians, addiction specialists, polysubstance use researchers.
55.5% of prescription sleep aid misusers also used marijuana
What the researchers found
Two polysubstance profiles identified: marijuana/alcohol/tobacco (MAT, 68.3%) and MAT plus cocaine/hallucinogens/prescription drugs (31.7%). The more complex profile was more common among younger, male, White adults.
Why it matters
Sleep-motivated prescription drug misuse occurs overwhelmingly in polysubstance use contexts. Cannabis and alcohol are involved in nearly all cases, requiring integrated treatment.
The numbers in context
2,603 participants. Alcohol 90.4%, tobacco 61.5%, marijuana 55.5%. Average 3.6 additional substances. MAT profile: 68.3%. MAT+CHPR: 31.7%.
How the study worked
Latent class analysis of 2,603 NSDUH 2015-2019 participants with past 12-month sleep-motivated nonmedical use of prescription tranquilizers/sedatives plus additional substances.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional. NSDUH lacks frequency details. Self-reported motivations.
How to read the evidence
Large nationally representative dataset with latent class analysis, limited by cross-sectional design.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, data 2015-2019.
The bigger picture
Understanding that cannabis is part of the picture for most prescription sleep aid misusers should inform comprehensive treatment planning.
Questions still open
- Does addressing cannabis use improve outcomes for sleep aid misuse? Are stimulants driving the sleep problems?
Common questions
Do people who misuse sleep medications also use cannabis?
What puts someone at risk for the more complex pattern?
Read the original research
Profiles of polysubstance use among people reporting past 12-month sleep-motivated nonmedical use of prescription tranquilizers/sedatives.
The American journal on addictions, 34(3), 313-321
Citation
Falise, Alyssa M; Prasanna Surendran, Parvathy; Hoeflich, Carolin C; Striley, Catherine W; LaMontagne, Liva; Lopez-Quintero, Catalina. (2025). Profiles of polysubstance use among people reporting past 12-month sleep-motivated nonmedical use of prescription tranquilizers/sedatives.. The American journal on addictions, 34(3), 313-321. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13665
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