Any parent of a teen will tell you that getting their kids up in the morning is a daily struggle. Most schools have a start time of 8 a.m. or even earlier. However, most teens aren’t even getting to bed until midnight or later. This leaves teens struggling to make it through the day.

“Just go to bed early,” you might say. Not always is that an option for teens. Some teenagers juggle school, a job, and homework. Going to bed before midnight isn’t even a possibility for some, unless homework goes undone or hours are cut at work. Adults encourage teenagers to be responsible and get a job, but these jobs are part of the reason they do not get enough sleep.

Lack of sleep causes teenagers to be moody and unalert. More seriously, lack of sleep can cause depression. Depression can cause obesity and abusive behaviors such as alcoholism and drug use.

With not enough sleep under their belt, teens are more likely to be dangerous on the road. When you are sleep deprived, you are as impaired as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08%, which is illegal for drivers in many states.

Sleep is vital to your well-being. According to the the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep to function best. Lack of sleep limits the ability to learn, listen, and concentrate. Teens are more prone to pimples when they don’t get a good night’s rest. No pills, vitamins, or drinks can replace good sleep. Memory recall and ability to maintain concentration are improved when an individual is rested. Eight hours of sleep is required for teens to perform to the best of their ability. I’m not sure what the solution is to this problem, but it is an issue that needs to be addressed.