How Drugs Affect Sleep Quality
Ever wondered why you toss and turn after that late-night coffee? Stimulant drugs make it difficult to fall asleep by increasing alertness and interfering with your body's natural sleep signals. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks, blocks adenosine receptors in your brain—the very receptors that would normally signal tiredness.
The effects of caffeine can linger longer than you might expect. After drinking coffee, it takes over five hours for caffeine levels in your bloodstream to drop by half! This is why having caffeine late in the day can seriously disrupt your sleep cycle and potentially lead to insomnia.
Stronger stimulants have even more pronounced effects. Amphetamines (like "Speed") powerfully stimulate the central nervous system, promoting wakefulness and sometimes causing delusions. Though used medically for certain conditions, recreational use can severely disrupt normal sleep patterns.
Sleep Fact: Insomnia isn't just about struggling to fall asleep. It also includes difficulty staying asleep or waking up too early and being unable to return to sleep—all of which can be triggered by stimulants.