Between 2000 and 2004, the use of sleep medications doubled among adults aged 20-44. But the use of such medications among children aged 10 to 19 also went up by 85 percent. And money spent on such drugs within that age group was up 223 percent.

Also of note:

• Spending on sleep meds among adults in the 20-44 age category spiked upward 190 percent.

• Children in the 10-19 age bracket showed the highest dual usage of prescription sleep aids as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs at 15 percent.

• Women used prescription sleep aids far more often than men, particularly among young women under 19 (37 percent) and those between 20-64 (58 percent).

• Although adults over age 64 take more sleep medications, the increased use was lower among that age group (16.5 percent) than all the others in the study.

According to the National Institutes of Health, upwards of 70 million people in the United States may be affected by sleep problems, such as insomnia or sleep apnea, and 60 percent of such suffer from a chronic sleep disorder.

MSNBC October 17, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:Insomnia is a pervasive problem in our culture. Unfortunately as this articles shows increasing numbers arerelying onpotentially toxic and highly addictive sleep drugs like Lunesta and Ambiento solve their sleep challenge.

This is no small issue as obtaining the right amount and quality of sleep is one ofmost importantthings you can do to optimize your health, as well as reduce your risk of obesity, but you don't need to rely on a potentially toxic drug to do it for you.

If getting the right amount of sleep is a problem for you, I urge you to review my free 29 Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep. So ditch the drugs and diligently apply these secrets so you too can start reaping the benefits of a good night sleep.

I you are already addicted to sleeping pills it is important to understand that you will have to wean off of them very slowly as your body has become dependent on them.

Whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, or don't feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, my guidelines will provide you with various useful techniques to improve these problems. Some of my recommendations include:

• Listen to White Noise or Relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep. An excellent relaxation meditation option to listen to before bed is the Insight audio CD.

• Sleep in complete darkness or as close to it as possible

• Turn off the TV before bed and read something spiritual or religious

• Avoid using loud alarm clocks

• Wear socks to bed