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Article: Use of prescribed sleeping pills is up.
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- October 23, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Guy Boulton
Oct. 23--Sleeping pills -- rechristened as sleep medications -- are becoming increasingly accepted and a prescribed drug for young adults and even children.
The use of prescription sleeping pills among people ages 20 to 44 doubled from 2000 to 2004, according to an analysis of insurance claims by Medco Health Solutions, which administers prescription drug plans.
Further, the number of children who were on sleep medication rose 85 percent. The use isn't widespread -- an estimated 181,050 children, or 0.22 percent of the population 19 and younger, take the drugs. Still, the increase came even though none of the most popular ...