Daily-level associations between sleep duration and next-day alcohol and cannabis craving and use in young adults.
To examine the effects of sleep duration on next-day alcohol and cannabis craving and use among young adults. A community sample of young adults who reported recent simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use at screening (N 409 M At the day-level, sleep duration was inversely associated with craving for both alcohol and cannabis Stronger craving was reported on mornings and afternoons after relatively shorter sleep duration. At the burst-level, sleep duration was inversely associated with morning and afternoon alcohol craving indicating stronger alcohol craving, but not cannabis craving, during two-week periods when young adults have accumulated shorter sleep duration. Pertaining to alcohol and cannabis use, no daily-level effects were found, but the burst-level effect showed that participants engaged in greater alcohol use during two-week bursts with shorter sleep duration. Based on a non-clinical sample of young adults reporting substance use, results suggest shorter sleep duration may be a modifiable risk factor as it pertains to substance use and cravings. Results highlight day-level effects of shorter sleep duration on substance use cravings and adverse effects of cumulative sleep deficit on alcohol use.