For the fast-action, reliable efficacy and high safety, sedative-hypnotics have become the first-line drugs for insomnia, anxiety, epileptic seizure and alcohol-dependence withdrawal treatment. Rational use of such drugs has important application value in clinic. However, abuse or misuse might lead to adverse consequences such as memory impairment and increased risk of accidental injury. There have been some studies aiming at patients or prescribers to reduce the risk of overuse of sedative-hypnotics. This article reviews the prevalence of sedative-hypnotics abuse and corresponding interventions, with a view to providing the evidence of rational application as well as the basis for the subsequent researches on sedative-hypnotics.