The study’s lead author, Dr. Scott Weich, told The New York Times (NYT) that, though imperfect, his study reiterates the extreme dangers associated with anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing drugs. A professor of psychiatry at the University of Warwick, Dr. Weich says he has prescribed many of these drugs to his patients in the past, and their dangers are impossible to overlook.
“[This research] adds to an accumulating body of evidence that these drugs are dangerous,” he is quoted as saying. “I prescribe these drugs, and they are difficult to come off. The less time you spend on them the better.”
Cannabis: the safe, effective alternative to mood pills and sleep drugs
For many people, the natural compounds found in cannabis, including the plant’s wide range of cannabinoids — cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are among the most well known — are far more effective at alleviating stress and anxiety, as well as promoting restful sleep. And unlike pharmaceuticals, cannabis is not dangerous and does not harm the body.