My thought is no drugs. I have had the same problem. It simply just takes time to get used to it. I personally sleep better in a tent then a shelter. Different strokes for different folks. Honestly, time is what it takes. It is a major shocker on your body that hiking and camping and what not, unless of coarse you hike and camp all the time. Just got off a week hike tonight… sure will sleep well tonight 
peaceful zzzzzzzzzzz’s to ya. OZ
BktoOz
Xman…gotta have a script. There is Ambien CR and Ambien. Regular Ambien is generic now and is really cheap. My sleeping problems on the trail happen the first night, so I take 5mg the first night. The rest of time exhaustion takes over and sleep comes pretty easy. I have also switched to a hammock (Clark) which has worked really well for me.
Good luck…
Eric G.
Thanks Eric,
And thanks to everyone else that has responded to this topic. There have been some great suggestions and I fully intend on trying some of them. It is awesome to have a site like this to visit and share ideas with everyone. :cheers
Xman
listen, ya’ll gotta lighen up on da drugs…anybody who does this trail, and is committed to the end is generally speaking, an Alpha type personality. Alpha type personalties don’t lie down and go to sleep with 0 thoughts. it’s a tuff one. I know. But as an Alpha type, I will not give in to needing something beyond myself to let me sleep. The first nite or two may be rough, but concentrate (sp?) on breathing deep, emptying the mind, with the exception of the thought of calm. I know, Zen Buddhist bull****…but you will find, like I have, that it works…if you do it. Are you going to let your brain control you??? Listen to the harmony around you…you are in the wilderness…make it your own. Are you Alpha or not???
JTTheWolf