Kendrick, Many studies show almost two thirds of adults (62 percent) experienced insomnia in the last year. One third of adults say they get fewer than 6.5 hours of sleep each night. Eighty-five percent of insomniacs never seek medical treatment. Millions of insomniacs have turned to over-the-counter night time sleep aids, creating $100 million-a-year business. They have spent an additional $200 million on melatonin, a sleep-enhancing herb.