Insomnia and sleep disturbance are associated with declines in health functioning, along with increases in mortality risk. Given the prominence of reported sleep disturbance in cocaine-dependent subjects and persistence into recovery, understanding the nature and severity of these disturbances in this population may help to identify relevant pathways that contribute to the increased mortality in cocaine dependence. Polysomnography provides a means of objectively characterizing sleep and, in turn, sleep disturbances. Few studies have used polysomnography to evaluate sleep in cocaine-dependent persons, yet these studies have the potential to advance treatments that will ultimately reduce morbidity in cocaine-dependent subjects.