How does sleep affect addiction?

Sleep plays a crucial role in addiction and recovery. Both Professor Gina Poe and Matthew Walker highlight different aspects of how sleep impacts addiction.

1. Sleep Disturbance and Relapse: Opiate withdrawal, in particular, leads to significant sleep disturbances. These disturbances can predict relapse behaviors, as sleep disruption is associated with higher chances of returning to drug use. The calming effect of opiates, mediated by endogenous opiates activating receptors in the brain, is significantly disrupted during withdrawal, affecting sleep and increasing relapse potential 1.

2. Emotional Reactivity and Reward Sensitivity: Sleep deprivation increases impulsivity and reward-seeking behavior, stressing dopamine-related circuits. This heightened reactivity can lead to greater addiction potential. Individuals become more emotionally reactive, both in negative and positive contexts, making them more susceptible to addiction and relapse 2.

3. REM Sleep and Substance Use: Altered sleep patterns, such as those caused by weekend sleep schedule changes, can increase REM sleep, resulting in more vivid dreams. Substances like alcohol and THC significantly disrupt REM sleep. When these are removed, there can be a rebound effect of increased REM sleep, which might interact with addiction and recovery dynamics 3.

   • 

     1

     Sleep and Addiction

     01:52:15
   • 

     2

     Sleep and Emotional Reactivity

     00:43:52
   • 

     3

     Sleep and REM Insights

     00:51:48

Overall, maintaining healthy sleep patterns is crucial for minimizing addiction risks and supporting recovery from addiction. Lack of sleep not only increases vulnerability to addiction but also impairs the ability to remain abstinent during recovery.