Self-medicating is the practice of using a substance without the guidance of medical or mental health professionals. It involves people self-diagnosing their condition based on the symptoms they are having and seeking their own remedies to treat it using the substances and methods they find suitable. There are so many risks with addressing a mental illness in this manner.Still, despite the dangers, it is common for people with co-occurring disorders to use drugs and alcohol to manage a mental health disorder. The reasons why people do it vary according to the person. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that about one in five U.S. adults has a mental illness. As of 2019, this was 51.5 million people. Per the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 9.5 million of those adults aged 18 and older had mental illness and a substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time. It is not always clear which came first, the mental illness or the SUD. It is also not clear in some cases if one caused the other. Still, there is a strong link between mental illness and substance use and abuse. Some people turn to drugs and alcohol because they can’t afford professional medical treatment for ADHD. Some people are not even aware of their condition but know they struggle with certain symptoms every day and just want to find relief. Others, however, may know something is wrong but don’t want to address it either out of denial that they have a problem or a fear of receiving medical treatment. ADDitude notes that people who feel shame and social stigma around having ADHD may also seek out drugs and alcohol as they deal with their condition privately on their own. This is not recommended. It’s dangerous for many reasons for a person with ADHD to go this route. They could:
Be making their existing condition worse
Masking other medical problems that need prompt attention and care
Risk mixing substances that can cause bad reactions when mixed together
Creating another health problem while trying to “fix” the one they know about
As ADDitude explains, because people with ADHD have problems with controlling impulsivity, they are more likely to try addictive substances. The substances do provide some relief to people who struggle with falling asleep, staying calm, or relaxing when out in social situations. However, using substances to manage these challenges is inviting a new set of problems to sort through.The barrier to using substances to self-medicate with is low for people who are prone to risk-taking and not really considering anything beyond immediate gratification. The long-term consequences of self-medicating are real and life-threatening. As noted earlier, one dose of cocaine could trigger an overdose. For many, the decision to use cocaine proves to be a fatal one. Even non-fatal cocaine use can trigger episodes of unpredictable behavior that could turn dangerous and lead to violent outcomes, such as abuse, self-harm, and harmful and life-threatening acts to others.In addition to cocaine, people with ADHD self-medicate with alcohol, heroin, marijuana, tobacco, and other substances that they believe make them feel better. Some people even mix drugs for stronger highs or to “crossfade,” which is using the effects of one drug to balance out the effects of another one. Again, this is another dangerous practice that should be avoided.NIDA reports that some recreational drug users mix cocaine with heroin or drink alcohol while using cocaine. This pairing of stimulants (cocaine) and depressants (alcohol, heroin) could overwhelm the body into shutting down. Other side effects can occur, including dizziness, fainting, vomiting, and overheating, among others.People who use cocaine to enhance alcohol’s effects are not only creating a longer, enhanced high, but they’re also producing a new, deadly substance by mixing the two. The substance is called cocaethylene, or ethylbenzoylecgonine. This is a dangerous chemical that is more toxic than cocaine. Cocaethylene can increase alcohol’s depressive effects, which means users may experience stronger reactions to cocaine. Some say people may exhibit violent or aggressive behavior with cocaethylene in their system. The toxic substance also doesn’t leave the body quickly, making the heart and liver vulnerable to longer stress periods. Users also are at risk of overdosing when cocaine is mixed with alcohol and/or other drugs.Combining cocaine with heroin is called a speedball. Both drugs are taken for the rush of euphoria they produce, but some take them to reduce the side effects of either drug. These side effects include anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, drowsiness, and other conditions. Like alcohol and cocaine, cocaine and heroin are drugs on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Cocaine’s stimulant effects will wear off faster than the effects from heroin. Too much of an opioid can depress the central nervous system, leaving depressing one’s breathing and oxygen levels. This can lead to brain damage and death.Some ADHD users may even try to mix prescription ADHD drugs with cocaine, alcohol, or other drugs. This, too, is risky. When it comes to Adderall and alcohol, Adderall is a stimulant medication, and alcohol is its opposite—a depressant. When present in the body concurrently, they compete with each other and do not cancel each other out, as Healthline explains. People with ADHD who use the drug before drinking alcohol may not realize when they have had too much to drink. Adderall dulls the symptoms of alcohol intoxication. Drinking too much can lead to alcohol poisoning and dangerous behaviors that could harm the drinker and anyone around them. If a person uses Adderall with cocaine, both stimulant drugs will work together and speed up the central nervous system. They will also speed up a person’s heart rate and affect the cardiovascular system. Both drugs tighten the blood vessels and raise a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. Stimulant abuse can increase one’s risk of suffering a fatal overdose marked with heart attack, stroke, and other complications. This deadly mix can also induce psychological disturbances, including paranoia, anxiety, panic, and psychosis.Chest pains and blood clots indicate a medical emergency. Get prompt medical attention by calling 911 or visiting your nearest hospital or urgent care center.It is important that people with ADHD get help for the mental health disorder. It is equally important they get help for their substance abuse issue, too. The sooner they get help, the faster they can start their recovery. What’s more, both disorders need to be treated together at the same time. This is the only way to ensure the person gets effective treatment for their co-occurring disorders, which is also known as dual diagnosis. If they are not treated in a professional program that targets the unique needs of people in this population, relapse can happen, and their ADHD symptoms will only worsen.A person who enters addiction treatment for a SUD could discover that they have ADHD. Accredited addiction recovery centers assess patients’ physical, mental, and emotional needs, which can lead to the discovery of ADHD and other mental health issues. People with ADHD and a SUD are treated with either behavioral therapies, medications, or both in an integrative program. Some dually diagnosed people have seen results that help them improve their lives. A person’s treatment program should be adjusted regularly to meet their needs. A recovery program will likely start with medical detox to help a patient withdraw from cocaine properly. This five-to-10-day process will allow them to regain stability while the body gets used to the drug’s exit from its system. You can read more here about what to expect when you go to detox.After detox ends, a patient can move on to the next appropriate treatment setting for their needs. In moderate-to-severe cases, patients are likely to stay on-site at a facility for an inpatient/residential program. This program, which can run 30 days or longer, gives them the time and place they need to address both disorders in an environment that promotes a focus on recovery around the clock.If you or someone you know has ADHD and uses cocaine or other drugs and alcohol to self-medicate in order to deal with it, give Serenity at Summit a call today. We want to help you in any way possible. Your new life can begin today.