Posted by PattyG on May 25, 1999, at 20:28:06
In reply to "self-medication", posted by paul on May 25, 1999, at 12:08:22
I want to start a debate about the concept of "self-medication."
Since moderate alcohol consumption is socially acceptable and legal, it is not considered to be "self-medication,"
and my guess is that most psychiatric professionals would not call it that. Is the degree of social acceptability of a
substance's use a criterion for determining whether it is "medicine" (self-administered or otherwise)?//Chuckle, chuckle.........start a debate;)
Okay, my thought is that regardless of the acceptance (or the legality), it's more an issue of when, where, and how. I'm not talking about "rites of passage" - I'm talking about kids who discover during that process that drinking/drugging feels good and gives them "relief." It's then taken a step farther and isn't used in a social fashion, rather when they're alone (what fun is it to get drunk/stoned/strung out all by yourself?) The "how" would be with regard to the extent of usage. My thought is that the folks who are "self medicating" will over-use. Okay.....debate on:)
poster:PattyG
thread:6408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/6518.html