What is Self-Medication?

Many people suffer from chronic pain conditions or mental illnesses in a self-imposed silence. For any number of reasons, these people will use or abuse drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine in order to cope with their symptoms. This practice of using illicit or legal drugs without proper medical supervision is known as self-medication. Many people who self-medicate have not been formally diagnosed with an actual medical or psychological condition, but others turn to alternative medical treatments when conventional drug therapies no longer bring relief. Some self-medication efforts can also be traced to the high cost of prescription drugs commonly used to address severe pain and psychological conditions. Self-medication is often considered a form of addiction, although the two concepts are not necessarily identical.

During the early 1970s, a working theory called the "self-medication hypothesis" emerged. This hypothesis suggested that many people suffering from certain physical or mental illnesses would experiment with various drugs until they discovered one that addressed their specific needs. This substance, whether it be legal alcohol or illegal heroin, would then be considered a drug of choice. A person suffering from clinical depression or lack of energy, for example, might choose to self-medicate with a stimulant such as caffeine or nicotine or cocaine. Other drugs such as alcohol or Valium might actually make a depression sufferer feel worse, so under the self-medication hypothesis, a depressed person would most likely become addicted or dependent on stimulants. This addiction could be fed by something as legal as three cups of strong coffee in the morning, or as illegal as a snort of cocaine. Self-medication can take on any number of forms.

Others may choose to self-medicate with central nervous depressants, commonly alcohol or prescription anti-anxiety medications. Some people believe they would benefit from drugs which induce a sense of relaxation, as in the case of moderate alcohol intoxication. Becoming intoxicated allows a person to lower his or her social inhibitions and release stress. A strong barbiturate, such as the infamous mother's little helper, would have a calming effect on the user and eliminate the absolute highs and lows associated with a stressful day. A person who chooses to self-medicate could also borrow prescription medication from friends or family members, or try to achieve the same narcotic effects by taking large doses of over-the-counter medications.

Some people choose self-medication because of concerns over the safety and efficacy of traditional prescription medicines and treatment regimens. Seeking professional help for an intensely personal issue may also involve admitting an addiction or illicit lifestyle choice, so some people choose to self-medicate rather than reveal the true nature of their conditions to others. Others may not be able to afford the often prohibitive expense of traditional prescription medications, or do not have access to such professional health care options. Because of the short-term or illegal nature of many drugs used for self-medication, however, many sufferers eventually do seek out better courses of treatment rather than risk incarceration or suffer through painful withdrawals.