Sleep deprivation is often treated as an inconvenience—something to power through with coffee and determination. But when sleep loss becomes chronic, its effects extend far beyond fatigue. One of the most significant and underrecognized consequences of insufficient sleep is its powerful influence on addictive behaviors.
From substance use to compulsive habits like overeating, gambling, or excessive screen use, sleep deprivation alters the brain in ways that increase vulnerability to addiction, relapse, and loss of impulse control.