Self-medication may explain the high rates of substance use among people with PTSD. Those with PTSD also commonly use or abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Among people who have had PTSD, approximately 31% have also abused or been dependent on drugs at some point in their lifetime. Approximately 40% have also abused or been dependent on alcohol. The high rate of co-occurrence between PTSD and substance use has led researchers to try and better understand this relationship so that treatments can be targeted more effectively.
Substance Use as Self-Medication
One major theory of the relationship between PTSD and substance use is that use of drugs or alcohol is motivated by desires to escape or alleviate the distressing symptoms of PTSD. Substance use problems have been found to be more likely to follow the development of PTSD, suggesting that there is something about having PTSD that may increase risk for substance use problems.
In addition, one study of cocaine users with PTSD found that the majority of people studied believed that their PTSD and substance use were related. Specifically, as PTSD symptoms got worse, people reported that their drug use increased as well. Conversely, as their PTSD symptoms got better, their drug use also decreased.
Other researchers have found specific relationships between certain PTSD symptoms and the types of substances used. For example, the severity of hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD has been found to be strongly connected with the use of substances that have a depressant or anti-anxiety effect, such as alcohol.
It is important to note that self-medication is not the only theory as to why PTSD and substance use are related. For example, using substances may put a person at risk to experience traumatic events, and thus, PTSD. In addition, some people may have an underlying genetic vulnerability for developing both substance use problems and PTSD.
Consequences of Self-Medicating with Substances
Substance use may initially result in a reduction in distress; however, in the long-run it can cause many serious problems. Substance use is a short-term fix. PTSD symptoms may come back even stronger, resulting in stronger desires to use substances. In addition, it has been found that people with PTSD and substance use problems are at increased risk for experiencing a number of negative consequences, such as depression, suicide attempts, interpersonal problems, legal problems, medical problems, and inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
Getting Help
It makes sense that people with PTSD would want to alleviate distress that results from their PTSD symptoms, but substance use is definitely not the answer.
Specialized treatments for people with PTSD and substance use problems have been developed. One such popular and well-established treatment is Seeking Safety. This treatment helps an individual understand the relationship between PTSD and his or her substance use while also providing the individual with additional skills for managing distressing PTSD symptoms, so there is less of a reliance on substances.
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