A recent study done at Drexel University in Philadelphia indicates that only one in every five adolescents actually gets the recommended minimum amount of sleep each night. The study shows that teens, with the help of heavily caffeinated drinks, are staying up later to text friends, surf the Internet, play games, or chat online. This combination of caffeine and technology is proving detrimental. One-third of teens report that they fall asleep in school at least twice daily and some report as many as eight times. Some even report feeling sleepy or falling asleep while driving.

People as a whole get less sleep than they did 40 years ago—averaging between 1 and 2 hours less sleep today. However, experts suggest that adolescents need more sleep than adults and that even eight to nine hours of sleep is not enough. While the amount of sleep that teens are getting has decreased, the number of technological devices in their bedrooms has increased.

The study also found that nearly all teens have at least one electronic device in their room—a TV, cell phone, computer, telephone, or music device. The average sixth-grader has two of these devices, and by 12th grade, four. Most teens report that they use at least four devices after 9 p.m.

Like adults, tired teens use caffeine to keep them awake. The average daily consumption of caffeine is 225 milligrams, the equivalent of two espressos. Many schools limit the sale of energy drinks, so teens often get most of this caffeine after 3 p.m., which can disrupt sleep.

Experts recommend some steps that parents can take with their teens:

• Have your teen turn off cell phones at night. Some providers allow you to set specific hours during which phone calls and texts can be made and received.
• Have your teen shut down the computer and turn off the television at bedtime.
• Limit your teen's overall caffeine intake after noon. Have them avoid highly caffeinated energy drinks like Red Bull™ and Monster™.
• Facilitate good sleep habits by having your teen maintain a regular bedtime routine with activities that are calming before bed, like reading.