Chicago Tribune: Popular Sleeping Pill Ambien Linked to Increased Death Rate

Sleeping pill users five times more likely to die than non-users

The most common misconception about prescription sleep aids is that they are safe. After more than 500,000 deaths, Scripps Health, with the help of Professor Robert Langer of MIT, started a long and detailed investigation on the safety of taking sleep aids.

The Tribune reports that “heavy users aren’t the only ones at risk – even people who took fewer than two pills monthly are three times more likely to die than non-users. Obviously the risk being referred to is death.  

How could a person die from only occasional sleep aid use? 

To answer this, you need to understand what is sleep aid is. It is most commonly a drug in the benzodiazepine family which works by depressing or slowing down the body’s central nervous system. This, in turn, may cause an array of side effects, including, but not limited to:
• Drowsiness
• Grogginess
• Confusion or lack of concentration
• Forgetfulness
• Dizziness or lack of coordination which can result in a fall or another kind of accident
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headache
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Changes in heart rate 
Benzodiazepines are arguably one of the most addictive families of drugs currently prescribed.  However this does not stop doctors from prescribing them.  The Tribune noted “Sleeping pills are among the most widely prescribed medications in the United States – it’s been estimated that as much as 10 percent of American adults use them at least occasionally.”
The drug companies who manufacture sleep aids have also continued developing these drugs by producing “controlled release” types.  But is that not enough to reduce the risk of a deadly overdose of sleep aids. 

According to Professor Langer, it most certainly is not.  “People think these newer, shorter-acting sleeping pills are safer because they’re out of your body relatively quickly,” he says. “That’s not true. There are meaningful risks associated with even occasional use.”   

What can someone do if they find they have developed a dependency on sleep aids?  In-patient rehabilitation where the person needs are assessed and where they can achieve a life without a chemical dependency is the best choice for most people.

At Narconon Louisiana, treatment for this kind of dependency has proven successful. Our graduates go home completely free of any of the drugs that might be used in other rehab centers. If you or your loved one is suffering from a sleep aid dependency, call the Intake Staff at Narconon Louisiana to see how a drug-free approach help an addict gain control of their life.  We offer proven drug abuse solutions.  Call 1-877-862-4326 now!