Insomnia and Sleep-Related Disorders - Essay Example

It has been analyzed that even after the US Food and Drug Administration has not allowed children to consume sleeping pills a huge number of children i.e. around 180,000 Americans under 20 consume these prescription sleep aids. This shows that children are consuming sleeping pills at a high rate. It is seen that sleeping pills can reduce anxiety, irritability and help to cure other sleep-related disorders. It is usually not prescribed by doctors to the children but however, in some cases, some sleeping pills are prescribed to these children.

Children who have been consuming sleeping pills are doing so to avoid their sleeping disorders such as insomnia. Sleep is an important factor in the growth of children as reduced sleep would impair brain function. Children are able to sleep well after consuming these sleeping pills and thus it can be said that they are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain. On the other hand, it can be seen that sleeping pills have their own adverse effects which can at times prove to be lethal. Children consuming these sleeping pills at such a tender age may get addicted to these sleeping pills.

One important problem which the children face after having these drugs is that they may lead to mental and physical impairment if consumed in large quantities. These pills can affect the central nervous system of children if used in huge quantities. Moreover, these sleeping pills would also affect the whole bodily functions of the children as they are at a growing age. The above-given arguments regarding the consumption of sleeping pills in children clearly show that the adverse effects of these pills are more than the good ones.

Although these sleeping pills can prove to be useful for children if a rationalistic stance is taken it can be said that children should not be allowed to consume these pills at all.