The Dangers of Self-Medicating

For some people, food is their substance of choice when looking for a way to de-stress from their problems. Emotional eating occurs when someone uses food for a purpose other than satiating hunger. This is more commonly known as comfort or binge eating.

Sometimes comfort food can be a good idea if you are grieving or going through a finite emotional state. It can become a problem when used as a coping mechanism. This type of behavior can often lead to conditions like binge eating disorder.

When you want to binge eat to treat an emotion rather than hunger, you’re also less likely to reach for healthy, nutrient-rich options. Instead, foods with high amounts of sugar, salt, grease, and fat will provide temporary boosts to the dopamine in the brain. These boosts can increase feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

Although not discussed as much in the context of self-medication, some people use exercise as a way to self-medicate. These cases often fly under the radar because our society sees exercising and over-exerting oneself as a good thing. Too much exercise, like anything else, can be a sign of a problem.

For those who have an eating disorder like anorexia, over-exercising is a way to burn as many calories as possible and maintain control. It can also relieve feelings of guilt from eating too many calories or not meeting weight goals.

Exercise in moderation is great, as it can help keep your body healthy. It also releases endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. Too much of it can be a sign that you are trying to suppress something. Too much exercise can actually cause many more problems with your mental health.

Studies have shown that nearly six percent of adults in the United States have some type of alcohol use disorder ⁵. Many people become addicted to alcohol through the prevalence of it in American culture. Alcohol is a popular way to self-medicate because it is socially acceptable.

One of the reasons that alcohol is so accessible to the general population is its availability. The only bar for buying alcohol is age. For someone under the age of 21, it is all too easy to convince an older person to buy alcohol on their behalf. You can buy alcohol at almost any grocery or convenience store.

Alcohol is classified as a depressant, and many people use it to mask or dull feelings of pain and trauma. A glass of wine or a drink can be a good way to relax with friends or have a drink with dinner. However, it can often be the beginning of a slippery slope towards addiction.

Even if someone who uses alcohol only does so moderately, it can be dangerous when combined with other substances. Doctors advise against consuming alcohol with any types of opioids or antidepressants. The effects of combining them can be detrimental or even deadly.

Marijuana, more commonly known as weed, is one of the less harmful substances that can help treat many problems. It can still lead to addiction through self-medication. Even though you cannot become physically addicted to marijuana, psychological addiction is possible ⁶.

People who suffer from anxiety can use cannabis to help ease tension and worry. It can also be used to cope with situations that give them anxious feelings. Jumping at it as the first solution to any uncomfortable feeling can lead to psychological dependence on marijuana.

If you find yourself needing marijuana to function, then you could have a problem with self-medicating. You can also develop a tolerance to it that builds up over time. Users often end up spending much more in the long run to achieve the same high they got when they first started smoking.

Heroin is one of the most popular street drugs that can be incredibly addictive. Many forms of heroin today are also laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl is an artificial chemical that is much more powerful than pure heroin. It can be even more dangerous when combined with other drugs or alcohol.

Many sellers also have connections to get prescription drugs. They sell these drugs on the street for those who are unable to get a prescription from their doctor. That way, the addict can continue to self-medicate without having to worry about running out of their prescription.

Stimulants like cocaine, crystal meth, and speed are also options for people who suffer from depression. Amphetamines can help users have more energy. They can produce a sense of euphoria while also separating the user from reality. Like opioids, they are also highly addictive.

Addiction to street drugs can lead to many other problems. Addicts will often commit crimes in order to purchase more drugs. Failure to pay dealers can also have consequences. This can compound into a lifestyle that involves activities like robbery and even prostitution.

One of the most popular methods of self-medication is through prescription drugs. Opioids are one of the most common prescription drugs. Many people have a perception that street drugs are the largest drug problem. However, doctors prescribing powerful pain medications account for much of the drug problem in the United States.

Doctors will often prescribe opioid painkillers after a patient has had a medical procedure like surgery. An injury that causes a significant amount of pain may also need opioids. People can get easily addicted to these because they have euphoric effects.

Some of the most abused prescription painkillers include codeine, oxycodone, and morphine. They are readily available with a prescription or purchase through the black market and street dealers. Users addicted to prescription painkillers will sometimes move onto harder street drugs, like fentanyl.

Another type of medication that people use to cope with problems is anxiety medication. Even these types of medications can be powerful. Daily antidepressants are a great way to treat anxiety. Medicine that quickly reduces anxiety symptoms can become addictive.

Xanax is often prescribed for immediate relief of anxiety. It may help when the patient begins to have a panic attack. Classified as a sedative, it can produce feelings of relaxation. Xanax is one of the most abused prescription drugs.

Similar to Xanax, Klonopin is another anti-anxiety prescription that has similar effects. Klonopin blocks nerve receptors in your brain that respond to feelings of anxiety and panic. The biggest side effect from Klonopin is extreme drowsiness.

These drugs have the potential to become highly addictive and users will often build up a tolerance. As time goes on, the user needs more of the drug to get high. This can lead to larger doses that can be fatal if the body cannot handle the amount of drug in the system.

Although cigarette use has reduced drastically in the past few decades, it is still a common way for users to self-medicate. Like alcohol, cigarettes are easy to buy, with the minimum age ranging from 18 to 21 in most states.

Nicotine can be overly dangerous in a vehicle like a cigarette, chewing tobacco, or a vape pen. With the traditional cigarette dying off, options to get youth hooked on nicotine have risen in popularity with flavored vape liquids.

Many of the chemicals from nicotine devices can cause permanent damage to the lungs, heart, and other vital organs. Even if someone stops smoking, it can take decades to undo the damage caused by their addiction to nicotine-based substances.

It is easy for cigarette addicts to get their fix, even in public spaces, because smoking is not illegal and still widely accepted. A smoke break for five minutes can deliver a quick burst of nicotine to the brain, which will hold the smoker over until their next cigarette. The longer you smoke, the more you need to generate the same feelings in your brain that respond to the nicotine.