Prayagraj: Excessive screen time, social media addiction and mounting academic and workplace pressures are taking a toll on sleep patterns among young people and professionals in the city, prompting a surge in the use of sleep-related medicines.Local drug traders estimate that consumption of such medicines has risen by nearly 25% over the past six months.On World Mental Health Day, psychiatrists warned that changing lifestyles and irregular routines are disrupting the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, particularly among competitive exam aspirants and working professionals.Dr Rakesh Paswan, psychiatrist at Colvin Hospital, said melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, is released in response to darkness. Prolonged exposure to mobile and computer screens at night interferes with this process, making it difficult to fall asleep and maintain healthy sleep patterns.Psychiatrist Dr A K Mishra said sleep deprivation has emerged as a growing concern across age groups, with youngsters among the worst affected. Competitive exam aspirants often cut down on sleep to study late into the night, while professionals remain glued to mobile phones for work and social media long after office hours.The trend is reflected in cases such as that of Sudhir, a Civil Lines resident employed at a private bank. Habitual late-night phone use gradually led to insomnia, eventually forcing him to depend on sleeping pills.According to drug trader Lalu Mittal, Prayagraj’s network of over 300 wholesale medicine dealers has witnessed a sharp rise in demand for sleep-related medicines. He estimated sales of such drugs at Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh over the past six months across various brands and govt supplies.Mental health experts stressed the need for fixed sleep schedules, reduced screen exposure before bedtime and early medical intervention for persistent sleep disorders to avoid long-term dependence on medication.