Sleep difficulties in adolescents can predict specific substance-related problems, according to a recent study.

Prior research has shown that poor sleep can predict alcohol-related problems and illicit drug use among adolescents and young adults in high-risk samples.

Researchers found that sleep difficulties and hours of sleep can predict a number of specific problems, including binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behavior in a nationally representative sample.

"National polls indicate that 27 percent of school-aged children and 45 percent of adolescents do not sleep enough," Maria M. Wong, professor and director of experimental training in the department of psychology at Idaho State University, said in a statement. "Other studies have shown that about one in 10 adolescents have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep almost every day, or every day, in the previous 12 months."

For the study, Wong and her co-authors analyzed data collected via interviews and questionnaires from 6,504 adolescents participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Data were collected for three waves -- 1994-1995, 1996, and 2001-2002 -- and study authors used sleep difficulties from a previous wave to predict substance-related problems at a subsequent wave, while controlling for substance-related problems at the previous wave.

"Sleep difficulties at the first wave significantly predicted alcohol-related interpersonal problems, binge drinking, gotten drunk or very high on alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, getting into a sexual situation one later regretted due to drinking, and ever using any illicit drugs and drugs-related problems at the second wave," Wong said. "Substance-related problems such as binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behavior are more important than others due to their association with reckless driving, automobile accidents, physical injuries and even death, as well as risk for sexually transmitted disease and unplanned pregnancy."

In the sample, about 30 percent had chronic insomnia and about 30 percent occasional insomnia. This speaks to the underlying biological basis of insomnia. Furthermore, the consequences of sleep difficulty and sleep insufficiency when added to use of alcohol or other substances can impact both medical and behavioral areas.

"And which is more important depends on whether one focuses on short-term or long-term consequences - the immediate impact of an automobile accident or reduced future job opportunities because of lost educational engagement," researcher Tim Roehrs said in a statement.

Both Wong and Roehrs believe that parents can play a significant role regarding their adolescents' sleep habits.

"Parents need to understand their children's sleep schedule, patterns, and habits," said Wong. "If children have sleep difficulties or poor sleep hygiene, it is important for parents to talk to them and find out the factors that may be causing the problems. Parents could explain the importance of sleep to their children, for example, how sleep may affect the development of the brain and thus self-control and behavior. Parents could also help their children keep a regular sleep schedule and monitor/control their children's activities before sleep, for example, no video games or texting after a certain time at night."

Wong hopes future research will address how sleep difficulties and deprivation may affect brain mechanisms, which in turn influence control of affect, cognitive processes, and behavior.

The findings are detailed in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.