SELF-MEDICATION

What is Self-Medication?

Self-medication can be one cause of a concurrent disorder (CD). It refers to the use of psychoactive substances (PS) (alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, or unprescribed psychoactive medications) with the goal of relieving mental health symptoms. Some people will knowingly self-medicate, while others may not be fully aware of the reason behind their consumption.

The Beaver Dam

Just as a dam helps beavers hold water back in the summertime, providing them with cover from predators, self-medication provides people with relief from the mental health symptoms they're experiencing.

However, self-medication can also aggravate mental health symptoms or lead to other harmful consequences, just like a beaver dam can lead to flooding.

There are many reasons why a person might self-medicate. Here are just a few:

easy access to PS and the ability to rapidly calm feelings of distress;
difficulty accessing health care;
a lack of trust towards the health care system;
costs associated with treatments not covered by insurance;
limitations of existing treatment options;
side effects of traditional pharmacological treatments.

It's also important to note that some groups struggle more than others to access and navigate the health care system and have their needs fully addressed (Indigenous people, allophones, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, etc.). These circumstances can also influence a person's decision to self-medicate.

Furthermore, some people experience fewer negative side effects when self-medicating with PS compared to prescribed pharmaceuticals. Others may experience positive effects in the short term followed by a deterioration of their mental or physical health in the long term.

Testimonial

« When I was younger, I was bullied in school. I had a lot of anxiety. That's when I started using. I couldn't be around people without it. »

Possible Avenues for Intervention

Illustration d'une ampoule

Help the individual access services and navigate the health care system:
- Accompany them to their appointments;
- Before the appointment, help them prepare any questions they might have and write down any needs or observations they that could help their health care provider adjust their medications, etc.
If the person wishes, support them in developing or adjusting a pharmacological treatment that is more beneficial than their SP use.
Support the person during any pharmacological follow-ups so that their health care provider is aware of their substance use and doesn’t necessarily impose abstinence on them.

Help them find reliable, nuanced information in layman’s terms to help them make informed choices related to:
- Psychiatric medication.
- Possible interactions between medications and PS.
- Issues related to withdrawal or a drastic reduction in substance use.