OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders remains a persistent public health challenge. The institute of medicine estimates that between 50 to 70 million individuals experience sleep disorders in the U.S. The prevalence of sleep disorders in the U.S. working population is expected to lead to a continuous increase in sedative drug use in this population. This research aims to examine the use of sedatives among the employed, part-time employed, and full time employed participants of the survey.

METHODS: The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was used. A multivariate regression and propensity score matching was conducted. Treatment-effects estimation with propensity score matching was analyzed individually with the outcome variable for unemployed vs. employed, part-time employed vs. full-time employed, and unemployed vs. part-time employed. Also, the sociodemographic variables were matched for each analysis.

RESULTS: 31,526 participants aged 18 years and above were analyzed in this study. From the multivariate regression, unemployed and part-time employed participants were .069(p=0.014) and .027 (p=0.000*) times, respectively less-likely to use sedative drugs as compared to full-time employees. Similarly, the treatment-effects estimation with propensity analysis for sedatives' use found that unemployed participants had 37.4%(p=0.000*) less likelihood of using sedatives vs. full-time employed participants. Part-time employed participants had 10.2%(p=0.012) less likelihood of using sedatives vs. full time employed participants. In comparison, unemployed participants had 31.2%(p=0.000*) less likelihood of using sedatives vs. part-time employed. Also, from the sociodemographic analysis, sedative use is found to decrease as income level increases.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that U.S. employed workers have higher utilization of sedatives. Additionally, we found that the sociodemographic features of an individual may have a moderating effect on the use of sedatives. The insights from this research support the increased need for policies and work-based prevention programs to improve sleep, health status, and productivity of U.S. employees.