Why are sleeping aids bad? Why do we have trouble falling asleep with them, and wake up groggy?

Which is worse: insomnia or sleeping aids?  Million Americans suffer from sleeping problems such as insomnia.  According to the Mayo Clinic, insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or staying asleep throughout the night.  Because million Americans have sleeping problems there is a billion dollar industry out there to create a solution – that solution is pills referred to as “sedative hypnotics” these help maintain sleep as well as induce sleep.  But such pills are made from heavy benzos and barbiturates. Each class has its own issues.  Benzos help relax the person, and are great for short term but are highly addictive.  Barbiturates; depress the nervous system.   So why are they a problem?  Well each class has its own symptoms and you often time don’t know the effects because you are sleeping.  But side effects range from slow breathing (bradypena), unusual dreams/nightmares/drowsiness/ and active sleep walking, etc.   Three out of the symptoms are most commonly seen and these are unusual dreams, active sleep walking, and drowsiness.  Two of which go hand in hand.  Many people experience the dreams and relate them to sleep walking.  Often times being unaware they are really doing what they are dreaming about.  It has been reported that individuals under the influence of sleep aids have been sleep driving/cooking/etc which can cause bodily harm to ones self and others.  So what about drowsiness?  Well the issue with sleep aids they depress the nervous system, and actually shut down the process that restart the mind.  So although you got full nights sleep your brain never actually restarted and tells you that you are asleep.