For the purposes of this article, a case study was conducted on a patient recovering from alcoholism and other drug addictions. The patient was interviewed using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess sleep quality. PSQI responses and an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 16 indicate that this patient experienced sleep disturbances, particularly sleep latency. Sleep disorders are a common illness among patients recovering from alcoholism. People suffering from drug or alcohol abuse disorders normally have problems sleeping. Sleep can be defined as a naturally recurring state of the body and mind, characterized by decreased awareness, reduced interest in the environment, inhibited sensory activity as well as inhibition of the body's voluntary muscles. Therefore, sleep disorders lead to difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep. Substance use or alcoholism may exacerbate sleep disturbances, which in turn may present a risk factor for later alcoholism. The types of sleep disorders in alcoholic patients vary and may include total insomnia, sleep cycle disturbances, sleep latency, hypersomnia, and sleep continuity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Numerous studies have found that sleep disturbances can affect alcoholic patients' ability to function in social and professional settings. For example, sleep disorders rob an individual of better sleep habits and the ability to initiate and maintain sleep. Patients become habitual users of pills, to the point of easily becoming dependent on drugs or other forms of medication to fall asleep. This can lead to serious health consequences, including psychological and physical dependence. A recovering alcoholic has difficulty having normal sleep patterns, which can affect their recovery plan and sometimes cause them to relapse. Obviously, alcohol helps trigger sleep but has an impact on the quality and duration of sleep. According to Halter (2018), although alcohol has sleep-inducing effects, it decreases deep sleep, REM sleep, wakes the user, and makes it difficult to return to sleep. Overall, the quality of sleep is disturbed. Halter (2018) further adds that sleep disorders can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Psychomotor disorders due to loss of sleep increase the risk of errors. Errors pose a safety risk to the patient and others, especially when working with vehicles or operating machinery. Sleep deprivation makes a person very irritable, short-tempered and emotionally unstable, making them unwelcome company in social settings. Many people with a history of alcohol use typically experience insomnia and trouble sleeping. For people in recovery, sleep disturbances could hinder their recovery efforts. One study found that 69.3% of patients in early alcohol recovery suffer from sleep disturbances, and 49.1% still suffered from sleep disturbances even after their first month of abstinence. According to Halter 2018, “insomnia occurs in most patients recovering from alcohol and can persist for months or even years, increasing the risk of relapse into alcohol abuse.”.