Substance Use Disorders

Sleep disturbances although highly prevalent conditions in patients with substance use disorders, they are underreported, underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and often untreated. Alcohol and various drugs of abuse interfere with the initiation and maintenance of sleep. The sleep disturbances can be experienced during active substance use including intoxication as well as during early recovery. Literature also indicates insomnia is a risk factor for substance abuse. Thus sleep disturbances can play a major role in initiating and maintaining substance use and increase the risk of relapse. This review describes the existing literature on the bidirectional relationships between sleep disturbances and substance use disorders in the context of alcohol, cannabis, opioid, and cocaine use disorders. Evidence with regards the type and severity of the sleep disruption, its time course, relationship to relapse, and treatment options when available are discussed. Specific treatment strategies focused on individual substance-related sleep disturbances will improve global outcome in substance use disorders and sleep and enhance the quality of life of the patients.