The Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol

Recently, a promising former child actress was found unresponsive near a riverbed. Cause of death? A suspected accidental drug overdose.

Her grieving mother stated, “I am aware she was using drugs and had been for quite a while. She was “self-medicating” to cope with past trauma.”

This is just one story of a life lived too short, but countless others are experiencing pain and trauma today, and they, too, are self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

But you might be asking yourself, “What exactly does that mean? To self-medicate?” This term is used when a person who is suffering from the distressing symptoms of anxiety, depression, emotional or physical pain or other intense feelings uses alcohol, drugs (prescription and otherwise), or other harmful substances without the oversight of medical management or treatment from a doctor. Perhaps the person has been formally diagnosed with a mental health disorder, but oftentimes, they are silently struggling and reaching for any kind of substance to ease the pain of their symptoms.

How common is self-medicating?

It’s pretty common for those with mood and anxiety disorders (stress, trauma, depression) to develop substance use disorders (SUD) because the individual self-medicates with the use of substances to cope with the problematic symptoms associated with the disorder.

In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, it was found that “the prevalence of self-medicating with alcohol and/or drugs among those with mood disorder or anxiety disorder ranged from 21.9% to 24.1%.”

A different survey from Niznik Behavioral Health found that 26.5% of people with mental health issues and 23.7% of people who experienced mental and physical health issues self-medicated. Even though wine, beer, and liquor are all depressants that make symptoms worse, both men and women used alcohol as the favoured and most commonly used coping substance; 81% of men used it compared to 76% of women. The use of daily marijuana and various forms of CBD products was very popular among both sexes, while women were more likely to use opioids over alcohol or other drugs to treat depression.

Why do people self-medicate?

Self-medicating occurs for a variety of reasons, even if someone doesn’t have a formally diagnosed mental health or medical condition. Everything from difficult life events, such as losing a job, going through a divorce or experiencing grief and abuse, can affect a person’s mental health and lead them to turn to drugs, alcohol or other substances to cope.

By self-medicating with substances, the symptoms of a distressing experience can feel more manageable at the moment and make it temporarily easier to cope with life in general. Also, many people who abuse drugs, alcohol or other substances can’t find any other way to cope with their feelings or co-occurring health conditions.

Here are some of the top reasons people self-medicate:

Pain Management: Many individuals overuse prescription drugs as self-medication to relieve physical pain.

Mental Health: Those experiencing mental health conditions, such as trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, often use alcohol and/or drugs to manage the overwhelming emotional feelings and symptoms.

Difficult Life Events: These events, such as the death of a spouse, divorce, betrayal, abuse or job loss, bring so much grief and trauma that individuals often turn to substances to cope. In fact, adolescents with a substance abuse disorder are three times more likely to have experienced a traumatic event than their peers.

Stigma, Lack or Limited Access to Health Care: In some cases, self-medication may be a result of limited access to mental health or medical care or a stigma associated with seeking help.

While self-medicating usually assumes drugs and alcohol, it’s also possible to abuse ADHD medication, comfort binge on junk food, or use smoking as a way to self-soothe and self-regulate. We all know someone who is self-medicating in one way or another, as it’s very common and relatively easy to fall into. Whether it’s a “well-deserved” glass of wine to relax at the end of every day, popping a Xanax to take off the edge, taking a CBD gummy to go with the flow,  or ordering in fast-food to binge and Netflix all night followed by a Valium to help you sleep.

However, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol can lead to long-term harm with devastating consequences.

The hidden dangers of self-medicating

Because we live in a culture where it’s not only socially acceptable but completely normal to drink to excess (shots, anyone?) and even do recreational drugs—like smoking weed in a park—it’s not always easy to understand when someone is self-medicating.

As a result, self-medicating might seem totally harmless at first or go completely undetected. After all, most households these days have entire pharmacies readily available in their very own bathroom cabinets. Someone who is struggling could easily decide to“try” something new in order to feel better and boost their mood, dull the pain and delay reality.

But self-medicating comes with a dark side, which can lead to a substance abuse disorder. If the associated mental health issues aren’t being addressed and treated correctly, the problems could become dangerous. For example, individuals who use cocaine to deal with their bipolar disorder only exacerbate their symptoms. Yes, the drug will temporarily make you feel better—perhaps invincible—but over the long run, this could worsen the pre-existing mental health condition, making the prognosis even worse than before self-medicating.

Self-medicating can also negatively impact your sleep cycles, zap your energy levels, and lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses. Additionally, trying to cope with a mental illness or mental health issues by turning to problematic substances can also cause changes in the brain, leading to the development of additional mental health issues such as mood, psychotic, and impulse-control disorders.

In the end, drugs and alcohol are temporary “fixes” that don’t solve the underlying issues and will only make you feel worse once the comfortably numb period wears off. For some, chasing that high could ultimately lead to death.

How Centres for Health and Healing can help

Do you find yourself using substances to deal with social anxiety, painful emotions, boredom or fear? Are you overusing ADHD medication or abusing prescription painkillers? Would you try just about anything to numb the grief and stress you’re experiencing?

Any use of alcohol, drugs or other harmful substances can elevate the risk of substance abuse disorder. During times of difficulty (like the pandemic) or stress (today’s worsening economic crisis), many more people turn to substances and self-medicate to dull the pain in their lives.

If you’re using drugs, alcohol or any other harmful substance to deal with or manage specific issues, symptoms or situations of a mental health issue, but your problems (health, relationship, financial) seem to keep multiplying—it’s time to seek help—before it’s too late.

At Centres for Health and Healing, we understand the difficulty of changing direction and breaking the habit of self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. Supported and guided by our expert team, we’ll help you learn to better understand the reasons why and when you self-medicate and how to implement healthier and more effective ways of coping with your problems rather than masking the symptoms.

Whether you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, drug abuse or a combination of substance abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, or other emotional difficulties, our programs are personalized to fit your individual needs and preferences.

At Centres for Health and Healing, we specialize in the science of addiction, so we provide holistic treatment programs that address the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—not just their symptoms.

Some of our programs include:

• Trauma-informed treatment
• Medical detox (for substance use disorders)
• Inpatient treatment
• Mental health treatment
• Individual and group therapy
• Mindfulness therapy
• Aftercare and support programs
• And much more!

If you’d like to learn more about Toronto’s Premier Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Centres, our alcohol addiction treatment program or our mental health treatment program, contact our professional team in Ontario, Canada. It’s time to begin the journey of taking back your power and reclaiming your life.