HIGH doses of sleeping pills can QUADRUPLE your risk of early death, researchers claim. And the highest doses may boost your likelihood of developing cancer. A global study of 10,500 regular users — carried out by US experts — found that people on sleeping pills were 4.6 times more likely to die during a 2½-year period compared to others. Higher users — those on 132 pills a year — had a 5.3 times greater chance. This group were also 35 per cent more likely to develop cancer. A third of British adults suffer insomnia. One UK expert disputed the study results, saying they would mean people \"dropping like flies\".