Dangers of Self-Medication

Self-medication is the practice of an individual using available medications or substances to treat self-diagnosed symptoms or conditions. In general, the practice of self-medication applies to any ailment or condition that a person may treat without the help of a healthcare professional. This includes minor injuries or illnesses such as the common cold.

Unfortunately, many people who are living from more serious health conditions, particularlymental health conditions, turn to self-medication as an alternative to seeking appropriate care. Potential risks of self-medicating serious health conditions include incorrect self-diagnosis, increased risk of drug or supplement interactions, incorrect choice of therapy and risk ofdependence and abuse.

Understanding the reasons why someone might self-medicate and the risks associated with self-medication can help ensure that you or your loved ones are receiving the appropriate medical care and preventing potentially dangerous outcomes.

What Is Self-Medication?

The traditionaldefinition of self-medicationis “the taking of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one’s own initiative, or on the advice of another person, without consulting a doctor.” Self-medication is a regular practice as it is aform of self-care of our health. Self-medication of minor injuries and minor illnesses helps reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system and is a common practice in the United States.

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Dangers and risks arise with self-medication when people turn to self-medication when trying to treat more serious health conditions, such asmental health conditions, that require appropriate intervention from a medical professional. Rather than consulting a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and medical treatment, many people use supplements and other substances, sometimes drugs and alcohol, to try to cope with the symptoms they are experiencing. This practice can result in improper treatment of symptoms and conditions as well as potentially cause new conditions, such assubstance use disordersor addiction.

The Self-Medication Hypothesis

The self-medication hypothesis was first presented in the 1980s as a reason behind how and why individuals are drawn to and become dependent onheroinandcocaine. The main concept behind the theory is that individuals discover the specific actions oreffects of certain substancesand then use specific substances to relieve or change the symptoms or emotions they are experiencing. For example, someone living with anxiety would specificallyuse alcoholfor its calming and sedating effects. The self-medication hypothesis seems intuitive but it has received mixed reviews from the medical community and it has been both accepted and dismissed.

Regardless of the theories behind why someone with a mental health condition could be drawn to substances, the linkage between mental health conditions and substance use disorders is undeniable and has been of concern for many years. “Co-occurring disorder” is the term used when a person is diagnosed with both a mental health condition and substance use disorder. According to the2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, of the 18.7 million adults aged 18 and older with substance use disorder, 8.5 million had co-occurring substance use disorder and acute mental illness, and 3.1 million had co-occurring substance use disorder and serious mental illness.

Why Self-Medicate?

Self-medication of mental health conditions with substances is generally accepted as having very limited benefit in treating the condition andmay potentially worsen the symptoms. However, to the person who is self-medicating, the typical rationale may not apply. There is a vast array of reasons why someone may decide to self-medicate with substances in order to cope with their symptoms of mental health conditions. Although the exact reason is very specific to an individual’s situation, there are some commonly understood reasons including.

The reasoning behind why someone may choose to self-medicate may not make sense to others. However, it is important not to dismiss their thinking. When helping someone who is self-medicating as a way to cope with mental illness,compassionate interventionis key to guiding them toward appropriatemental health treatment.

Self-Medication and Co-Occurring Disorders

Often when people are self-medicating with substances for undiagnosed mental health conditions, it is difficult and sometimes impossible todetermine which occurred first, the mental health condition or substance use disorder. The practice of self-medicating mental illness is very dangerous as substance use disorder can worsen symptoms of mental illness. Improper treatment of mental health conditions is very risky for the individual and can affect the way they act in their relationships with other people. Improper treatment increases the risk forself-harmor harm to others depending on the mental health condition present.

Some disorders with increased risk for self-medication include:

Forms of Self-Medication

Self-medication is the selection of certain practices, supplements, medicines or substances in order to treat self-recognized symptoms. There are many ways to self-medicate and some are more beneficial and less harmful than others. Unfortunately, many individuals turn to harmful substances as their preferred method of self-medication.

Examples of some harmful options or indulgences used to self-medicate include:

The Risks of Self-Medication

Although self-medication is a form of self-care commonly used to manage symptoms of minor illnesses or injuries, the practice of self-treatment for serious health conditions, such as mental health conditions, has many risks.

The risks of self-medicationinclude:

For those affected by mental health conditions, it may be difficult to recognize the consequences of self-medication. It is very important for loved ones and healthcare professionals to be aware of the signs of mental illness and self-medication in order to provide appropriate guidance towardproper treatment.

Getting Help for Self-Medication

The first step to getting help for self-medication can be difficult as it involves recognizing that there is a problem that requires the help of medical professionals. It may be helpful to reach out to family or friends in order to get support and guidance toward appropriate medical treatment and counseling. A trained healthcare provider can diagnose existing mental health conditions and help you manage the effects of self-medicating with addictive substances.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder,The Recovery Villagecan help.Speak with a representative todayabout the benefits of comprehensive and individualizeddual diagnosis treatment programs.