As the name suggests, sleeping pills are medications – almost always available only through prescription – taken to help people with insomnia get to sleep. Technically sleeping pills are known as hypnotic or soporific drugs, and are closely related to sedatives; some may also be referred to as sedative-hypnotic drugs.
Some sleeping pills, unfortunately, are habit-forming, and sleeping pill addiction is a growing problem in the UK. As well as accessing them through prescriptions, users can get from countless illicit sources including many sites on the dark web and from street dealers; nicknames for sleeping pills include ”tranks”, “downers”, “byebyes” and many more.