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"There are endless cases documented in the media of alcohol and drug use derailing the careers of rockers, rappers, painters, authors, actors and many other types of artists, as well as famous inventors and entrepreneurs. Why they use drugs and alcohol is a difficult question to answer and likely beyond the scope of this post. Are they self-medicating a physical or mental illness? Are they introverted and use drugs and alcohol to be more engaging and dis-inhibited? Are they genetically predisposed to develop addictions? Do they hang with a rough crowd and drinking and drugging is part of the "lifestyle"? The answer is likely person specific, multi-factorial and a little of all of the above."
"Do Alcohol and Drugs Make You More Creative?"
"The idea that substance abuse can be a form of self-medication is formally known as the self-medication hypothesis and was introduced in 1985. The hypothesis claims that people use substances as a response to mental illness. It states that alcohol and drug abuse is often a coping mechanism for people with a variety of mental health conditions, including depression. It also suggests that people gravitate toward the substance that alleviates their symptoms most effectively. However, some say using substances to self-medicate can lead to symptoms of mental illness. For example, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America says that alcohol and other substances can worsen anxiety symptoms. Self-medication can have a negative impact on mental health and does very little to treat the underlying condition."
"Recognizing Forms of Self-Medication"
"People tend to self-medicate for two fundamental reasons:
First, substances may seem to make the symptoms of a distressing experience, such as an illness or mental health condition, feel more manageable in the moment, serving as a temporary way for them to cope.
Second, many people who abuse substances can’t find another way to cope with their feelings or co-occurring health condition."
"Are you Self-medicating with Drugs or Alcohol?"
"Life can be full of challenges, situations, feelings, and circumstances we want to ignore, diminish, or escape from. But how we deal with those events and feelings can be the difference between substance abuse and healthy wellbeing. Drinking, smoking marijuana, or using prescription medication may be socially acceptable responses to life stress, but as “normal” as these responses may seem, using substances to try to make ourselves feel better —even for a short period of time — isn’t healthy. It’s self-medication, a harmful behavior pattern that can lead to addiction and emotional, social, interpersonal, and physical issues."
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