Your children’s sleep pattern when he is 11 may play a role in their vulnerability to alcohol addiction. The conclusion was based on the findings of a study done in western Pennsylvania, where they investigated the male teenager’s sleeping habits.
The research done for many years has found that less sleep or poor sleeping habits is linked to alcohol addiction. The findings revealed that boys at age 11, who sleep one hour lesser than usual are 20 percent more likely to abuse alcohol.
The lead author Brant Hasler, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And his team further investigated other possible factors that may have influenced the child’s addiction to alcohol. They found that a disturbed sleep is a contributing factor for alcohol use disorder.
“Addressing sleep may now be something we can add into the package of our substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts,”Hasler said.
Safeguarding your child from alcohol addiction is very significant. Your child’s brain is still developing until the age 20 and so early exposure to booze may lead to poor memory later in life. To check on this, the scientists studied whether really alcohol affects a teen’s memory.
They tested adolescents age 12 to 14 by giving them mental tests. They made a follow up after four years, and they found that kids who drank lesser during those years scored higher in the mental test compared to those who drank more. The findings are consistent even with the teens who aren’t diagnosed with addiction.
The researchers advise parents to watch their teens sleeping habits. Don’t let them use gadgets such as cell phones, laptop, tablet or other things before going to bed an hour before sleeping. Instead, encourage your child to have a conversation with you.
You may also tell them to take a refreshing bath before going to sleep; play soft music or read an interesting book. You may also remind your child to keep away all their gadgets. When these things are near, your child may try to reach them at the middle of the night.
During dinner, you may prepare protein and carbohydrate foods that may help them sleep better. Set up your child’s room with no light whenever they sleep. It promotes a good night’s sleep.
These tips are only guidelines to help you safeguard your teens against alcohol addiction. There are still other factors that may influence them to experiment with alcohol. Try develop an open communication with your teenager to let you be aware of the things your child is doing.
Alcohol abuse is a chronic disease. Make sure you do everything to keep your child out of this growing problem in the country.
