self-medicate
verb
self-med·i·cate
ˌself-ˈme-di-ˌkāt 
self-medicated; self-medicating; self-medicates
1
transitive
: to treat (something) by self-medication
people who attempt to self-medicate depression
2
intransitive
: to treat oneself by self-medication
self-medicated with analgesics to control arthritic pain
These courts are a lifeline for veterans, many of whom struggle with post-traumatic stress and brain injury when they return home after serving, often using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.—
Claire Handscombe
Claire HandscombeExamples of self-medicate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
All those years of self-medicating, watching Rachel Maddow with a glass of white wine or a beer.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Growing need for treatment, and not enough help available
Litwack, from UWM, believes alcohol is increasingly used to self-medicate depression and anxiety.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
After a question about how judges influence people’s lives, Chris Wagner, who runs a court program for veterans, talked about a man in the program who served in Afghanistan, had post-traumatic stress disorder and was self-medicating with vodka.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The facility believed his past behavior stemmed from his attempts to self-medicate his troubles.
—Alex Heigl, People.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-medicate
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Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Growing need for treatment, and not enough help available
Litwack, from UWM, believes alcohol is increasingly used to self-medicate depression and anxiety.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
After a question about how judges influence people’s lives, Chris Wagner, who runs a court program for veterans, talked about a man in the program who served in Afghanistan, had post-traumatic stress disorder and was self-medicating with vodka.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The facility believed his past behavior stemmed from his attempts to self-medicate his troubles.
—Alex Heigl, People.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-medicate
Cite this Entry
“Self-medicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-medicate. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-medicate
verb
self-med·i·cate
-ˈmed-ə-ˌkāt
self-medicated; self-medicating
: to treat by self-medication
the patient had attempted to self-medicate depression
: to treat oneself by self-medication
patients with dental pain often self-medicate with analgesics
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